125 Tricks with Cards Or Sleight of Hand Introductory Ttie State Library of Victoria "ALMA CONJUIUM® COLLECTION”

W !LL ALMA M.I.M.C. aO N D O N ) 125 Tricks With Cards Or Sleight of Hand Introductory Ttie State Library of Victoria "ALMA CONJUIUM® COLLECTION”

Out of all types of sleight-of-hand fingers when a sleight is about to and other kinds of tricks, few are so be performed. You w ill have to imi­ attractive to the average amateur as tate the ventriloquist and his “speak­ those performed w ith the assistance of ing dummy” whom he holds on his a deck of cards. In nearly every group knees. The audience watches w ith rapt can be found at least one individual interest the movements of the dummy, who can do one or more cards tricks, which is just what the ventroloquist but the person who has at his finger­ wants, for then . they won’t see the tips the ability to preseat in the cor­ corners of his own mcuth moving rect manner a fairly continuous num­ while the words apparently are com­ ber is still rare. ing out his "stooge’s’’ lips. Therefore the person who has the The beginner can rest assured of patience to master some of the bet­ one thing and that is that the tricks in ter tricks to the point where they can this book are those used by some of be presented with confidence and suc­ the foremost masters. The experts cess really is unique. These tricks are who worked out the correct presenta­ not learned to the point of perfection tion of the tricks contained in this at one or two trials. Naturally, there book all were recognized as among are some who can learn to understand the real masters. The tricks are sound a trick with a few readings of the and when properly presented w ill ren­ Instructions, but there Is something der the effects desired. else that also must be studied—the There are many tricks which do not correct movement of the fingers. The require any equipment and it frankly tricks must be performed deftly and was the intention of fhe publishers to with as smooth a flow of motion as include as many of this type as possible. The action must not be jerky possible. Most of the equipment re­ and incoherent or the entire effect quired w ith some of the more elaborate is spoiled and usually the secret of the tricks can easily be obtained. Much trick given away. of it can be made by the performer, if Palming, passing and forcing are he is genuinely interested in the pos­ perhaps the backbone of the card trick sibilities. In fact, most of the masters sequences. These Instructions should who appeared for years on the stage be studied to the point where they can and in private manufactured their own be performed with hardly any more equipment. Frankly, most of the equip­ difficulty than it is to raise a fork to ment on the market is copied from pro­ one’s lips. ducts which those masters devised. The history of card tricks goes back Whether the reader wants to enter to the middle ages and for years It into the consideration of these more was regarded as genuine magic to be intricate possibilities is entirely up to able to perform some of the stranger himself. The book abounds with nu­ sleights, as are offered in this book. merous tricks and sleights which can However, the secrets are so simple that be mastered within a short period of once understood they are very seldom time and the publishers confidently fo rg o tto n . predict that once the easier tricks have Of course, there Is more to card been mastered the desire to perform tricks than the mere presentation of the harder ones will be hard to the motions. You must develop a con­ suppress. tinuous line of patter, as the stage per­ There are some who contend that formers term It, to keep up the Inter­ card tricks really started shortly af­ est of the audience and also to direct ter playing cards were introduced in­ the attention of the audience from your to Europe and were worked out by the 2 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND world’s first cheats in card games. As and studying that sometimes covered soon as the craze for cards became many years. Por instance, the trick in general there were those who worked which a card is torn up by the aud­ out a few of the simpler ways whereby ience and then made to reappear whole, cards could be switched to the benefit in a frame on the stage, w ith the excep­ of either one or more individuals in tion of a single piece of the supposedly those games where wagers and stakes torn card missing, actually took years were being sought after. Naturally, the number of these early cheats was to work out. But when it was perfect­ small and until their nefarious scheme ed the old master knew when he said was suspected they had gained consid­ he could do the trick that it would be erable riches, according to these his­ done smoothly and that the amaze­ torians. However, it was not long be­ ment of the audience at seeing the fore their schemes were uncovered and torn corner reappear and furthermore became, to a certain extent, the know­ to have one of the audience fit in the ledge of so many that it was imprac­ piece he retained when the card was tical to use them at gaming tables. To ripped to shreds would be almost un- beat this situation the cheats merely believeable. Still, this trick can be concentrated on finding new methods worked out if the special equipment is at palming cards, switching cards, obtained. stacking the decks, etc., etc., usually Of great value also is the ability of managing to keep just a little bit the amateur to appear exceedingly ahead of their pursuers. While the natural during the presentation of nature of card tricks is fairly well what tricks he may have mastered. understood the method of doing them .There should be little in his action to is still more or less a general mystery. indicate that he considers himself a This is why so many respectable per­ finished magician. The magician usual­ sons are annually lured into games by ly accomplishes his feats to the accom­ professional gamblers who understand paniment of vast flourishes, excessive card tricks and against whom the un­ fanfare, etc., by which he impresses his suspecting victim has no chance of audience of the great difficulty and competing. The annual toll runs into strain coincident with presentation of many hundreds of thousands and the his tricks. The amateur who can per­ professional gambler always'will find form a sequence of card tricks in a victims because so few persons under­ fashion that makes it appear that it stand what can be done with a pack requires almost no effort makes his of cards/ a fertile mind and deft fingers. audience wonder the most. The patter Of course, the great majority of card can be casual and easy, just as though tricks that have been handed down it were part of the ordinary conversa­ through generation after generation tio n . W hen the audience sees the cards are based on the great opportunity for do strange tricks with almost no effort entertainment which they offer. Cards they become so impressed that there can be made to rise frurn the table, is always the demand for more and flutter through the air, change their also attempts to imitate, which natur­ Identities while in full view of every­ ally always come to failure and which one—in fact so many things can be greatly increase the respect for the done that suggest strongly of black p e rform e r. magic that the conscientious performer The special equipment, of course, can make peoples’ hair literally stand does not fit in with the plans ,of the on end. person desiring to present card tricks Equipment and accessories became as a casual interlude in what may be the result of a desire for variety in a card party or a house party. Equip­ programs and entertainments by the ment always suggests careful prepara­ old masters. Once these masters had tion and naturally the performer must perfected all known tricks and sleights be careful to make his appearance, they immediately sought more. The patter, etc., appear in line with the new ones were the result of efforts nature of his special equipment. 125 Tricks with Cards Or Sleight of Hand

To bo •» successful artist, it is essen­ that the two packets will be in the po­ tial that this, the pass, be mastered sition depicted in the second illustra* to the point where absolutely no tion. Fingers of the left hand are now chance of failure exists. The deck is extended, causing the upper portion o f held as in the first illustration, with the deck to be drawn away, at the

same time raising (with the right the little finger of the left hand insert­ hand) (he lower edge of the under deck ed over the card to be brought to the until the edges of the packets just clear top. Now cover the deck with the right each other. Here refer to the third il­ har.d. Grasp the lower portion of the lustration. When the packets are at deck lengthwise between the second this position by the mere act of clos­ ing the left hand they will be brought together as at first except that they have changed places and the desired card will now be on the top. The let­ ters A and B in the illustrations will make this clear. TH E FORCE This trick consists of being able \ic make a spectator select a certain card, something which is positively indis pensible in certain tricks. It always has proven difficult to teach a novice how to accomplish this trick in writing, but actual experi­ ment will soon show results. The card finger at the upper, and the thumb at you wish selected is generally at the fhe lower end, the left thumb lying top or at the bottom of the deck, the slightly bent across the pack. Press pass is now beinpr made (bringring the the upper edge of the lower packet particular card to the middle) and the ' ito the fork of the left thumb so deck is spread out fanw :s the second I rRICKS WITH CAItDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND finger of the right hand meanwhile tak-e a pack and offer the same cards pressing- on the b(Tttom of the neces­ in like manner to the second and th ird sary card, as the illustration shows. person, taking care that they do n o t Now a spectator is asked to select a stand near enough to see the card card from the deck, the performer each other draws. meantime running the cards quickly You then draw several cards your­ from hand to hand and, as the spec­ self, among which is the long card, and tator’s fingers approach the deck, the ask each of the parties if his card be second finger of the right hand liter­ among those cards; he will naturally ally pushes the desired card into his say yes, as they have all drawn the same card. You then shuffle all the cards together, cutting them at the long card; you hold it before the first person so that others may not see it and telJ him that it is his card. You then put it in the pack, shuffle it, and cut it again at the same card, and hold it to the second person, and so to the rest. You can perform this recreation without the long card in the following- manner: Let any person draw a card, and re­ place it in the pack. You then make the pass, and bring that cam to the top of the pack and shuffle them with­ out losing sight of that card. You then t -i< as indicated in the second il- offer that card to the second person : -ii which shows how the card that he may draw it and put it in the is pushed forward. To be absolutely i middle of the pack. You make the pass sure of success* the card to be forced and shuffle the cards the second time should be a bit more exposed than in the same manner, and offer the card the others. This, however, is- jnerely to the third person, so again to the the outline of the trick, and to be fourth or fifth.

DECEPTIVE SHUFFLES There are three kinds. The fi^st ia to mix all the cards excepting one, ot’ which you never lose sight. To do tha^, you must in the first place put it upon the pack, then take it in the right hand, retaining the balance of the pack in the left; with the thumb of this last hand, slip into the right hand five or six other cards upon this re­ versed card, and upon these last five or six again, and so on until all the pack is found in your right hand. By this means the reserved card will be found at the bottom, and if at the mo­ ment you return the whole pack into successful it must be tried again and i the left hand excepting only the up­ again. Indifference is one of the great, i permost card, you can pass succes­ est assets when the trick is offered. sively all the cards from the left to However, th^re is an escape should the right hand, through placing the tho. spectator decline to take the sug- ; cards alternately above and below the gested card. Should this happen, mere­ aforesaid uppermost reserved card, un­ ly suggest that he replace the card in til you reach the reserved card, which the deck anywhere, put the little fin­ you put on the top, or the bottom, as ger on it, make the pass bringing it circumstances require. to the top, from which position it can The second deceptive shuffle consists be palmed off, or the trick finished as in taking from the right hand, the the fancy dictates. The card is now uppermost half of a pack held in the forced on some more accomodating left, in moving adroitly the annular person. finger of the right, to allow the rards to slip without deranging their order; THE DIVINING CARD and notice: 1st. That after having mov. Provide a pack in whic^i there is a ed the cards of a pack with the annu­ long card; open it at that part where lar finger of the right hand as w© have the long card is, and present the pack said, it is necessary to place beneath to a person in such a manner that he the pack in the right hand a card, will naturally draw that card. Then and one or two others ’mmediatelv fol­ tell him to put it into one part of the lowing it, to make pretence of leav­ pack, and shuffle the card3. You ing some wholly underneath. These, 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND 5 however must be brought back under 3. Lean your right hand carelessly the package in the left hand. 2d. That upon the edge of a table to conceal th© the package in the left hand, which fraud. was in the first instance beneath, and which is actually above ought to be TO PLACE A CARD taken into the right hand to be return­ Upon other cards hold in the It,.', ed slowly to its first place. hand the instant you ask the spectator The third deceptive shuffle consists to place his hand upon the pack. in m aking the pass to retain the cards The instant you have placed the card in the right hand, and to divide the remove slightly the right from the inferior portion into three other little left hand, in such a manner that you packages, of which the first falls upon almost touch the cards with the little the table, the second to the right, and finger, as if to indicate to the specta­ the third to the left. The upper half is tor the place where you invite him to then placed in the middle; should you put the hand. By this means he will transport upon this half the packages not pay attention to the fact that the of the right and the left, while follow­ hands are brought toward one another ing the same order, and employing al­ to operate a slight change, and he ternately the right hand and the left honestly places his hand when too late for greater quickness, and to cause it to prevent one. l appear that you shuffle by chance nd w’thout premeditation. The cards, TH E CHANGE ' ■ appearing to commingle, will he A card held in the hand mysterious­ Y* . never to have changed places. ly changes to an entirely different one. The card to be changed is held be­ TO SMUGGLE A CARD tween the first and second finger of To smuggle a card, it is necessary, first the right hand, the pack being held in to held it between the index and mid­ the left, with the card for which the dle finger of the right hand, and to first is to be changed slightly project­ hold the rest of the deck in the left ing from the top. The righ" hand now hand, between the finger and thumb of makes a sweeping motion, and, as it that hand. The upper card, which you desire to substitute, ought to be a little advanced toward the right hand. In this position the middle, annular, and little fingers of the left hand are perfectly free, and it is with these fingers that you must take the card which is in the right hand and when that is brought near the left hand, in the twinkling of an eye take from it the uppermost card which yo”. wish to substitute. TO SLIP A CARD To slip a card it is necessary, first to hold the deck in the right hand, and show the spectator the undermost card. | passes the pack leaves the card at the which we will suppose to be the Ace bottom and brings away, with the of Diamonds, second, turn the pack thumb and first finger the top one. This upside down, under pretence of taking may appear to the neophyte to be im­ this Ace of Diamonds; third, take in­ possible of inaetec.table execution, but stead of the Ace of Diamonds, the with even a little practice it will be card immediately following it, in caus­ found* that a perfect illusion can be ing this Ace of Diamonds to slip be­ created. If the body makes a half turn hind with the annular and little fingers from right to left, it will greatly fa­ of the right hand, which you have cilitate the deception, or if done in tho dampened a moment before with some ar*t of addressing a spectator, and saliva. The finger of the left hand, slightly bending forward at the same with which is drawn the second card time. instead of the first below it. should be likewise moistened with saliva. THREE CARDS HEING PRESENTED TO CARRY AWAY A CARD TO THREE PERSONS, TO GUESS To carry away one or more cards, it WHICH EACH HAS CHOSEN *.s necessary: 1. To hold in the left As it is necessary that the card™ hand the cards you design to carry presented to the three persons should away, poised diagonally over the others, be distinguished, we shall call the first and a little advanced toward the right A, the second B, and the third C; but hand. the three persons may be at liberty to 2. Take these cards with the left choose any of them they please. This hand, pressing them slightly between choice, which is susceptible of six dif­ the little finger and thumb. ferent varieties, having been made, x25 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND g«vt ■i ' first person 12 counters, foregoing sleights, as when he is profi­ to the second 24, and to the third 36; cient innumerable new tricks and com­ then desire the first person to add to­ binations will suggest themselves to gether the half of the counters of his mind. the person who has chosen the* card A, the third of those of the person who TO PRODUCE A PARTICULAR CARD has ‘chosen B, and the fourth part of WITHOUT SEEING THE PACK those of the person who has chosen C, Take a deck of cards with the cor­ and ask the sum, which must be either ners cut off. Place them all one way, 23 or 24; 25 or 27; 28 or 29, as jn the and ask a person to draw a card; following1 table; when he has done so, while he is look­ First. Second. Third. Sums. ing at it, reverse the pack, so that 12 21 36 when he returns the card to the pack, AB C 23 the corner of it will project from the ACB 24 rest; let him shuffle them; he will n^ver BA C 25 observe the projecting card. Hold them CAB 27 behind your back. You can feel the B CA 28 projecting card—draw it out, and show CBA 29 it. This table shows that if the sum 25, for example, the first person must TO CALL FOR ANY CARD JIN have chosen the card B, the second T H E PA C K the card A, and the third the card C; This is a very simple trick, but wil and that if it be 28, the first person greatly astonish an audience 1 0 whon. must have chosen the card B, the sec­ it is not known. Seat yourself at a ond the card C, and the third the card table so as to have the whole of the A; and so of the rest. company as much as possible in front of you and at some distance. Take the THE ORDINARY PALM pack of cards as it usually lies, and, It is often necessary to palm or con­ in passing it under the table or behind ceal a card in the palm of the hand. 'ou. glance at the card which happens Suppose, for instance, a card is chosen to be exposed; then, pretending to ’rom the pack and replaced. The “pass” shuffle the cards, place the one you is then made and the card brought to have seen back to back on the other e top. The pack is now held in the side of the pack, and holding the cards left hand, the right hand approaches firmly by the edges, raise your hand the same, and with the second finger between you and the company, and pushes forward the top card an eighth t how the card you have seen, calling of an inch or more, at the same time out, at the same time, what it is. exerting a slight pressure upon it. This Observe which card is facing you, causes the card to be tilted into the (for you have now the whole pack palm of the right hand, which forthwith facing you, except the one card which grasps the pack between the first fin­ is shown to the spectators,) pass them ger and thumb. under the table again, and transfer The pack can now safely be handed the card you have just seen to the to another spectator to thoroughly other side of the pack, handling the shuffle, and, when returned, the per­ cards as if shuffling them; again ex­ former has no difficulty in secretly hibit, and cry out the name of the card replacing- the palmed card on top. turned to the company, taking care to notice the card that faces yourself, which change as before and so on. By this means you may go over the whole pack, telling each card as it is exposed, without looking at the cards, except when they are held between you and the spectators, and when they are anxiously looking at them themselves to see whether you are right or not. THE CHANGEABLE ACE Take the Ace of Diamonds, and place over it with paste or soap s > as to slip easily, a club cut out of thin paper, so as to entirely conceal it. After show, ing a person the card, you let him hold one end of it, and you hold the other, v,rhile the card is palmed, allow the and while you amuse him with dis­ ■). nd to hang down in a careless po­ course, you slide off the club. Then lay­ sition, and never, under any circum­ ing the card on the table, you bid him stances, even glance at it. cover it with his hand; you then knock The beginner should devote as much under the table, and command the clu1 time as possible to the practice of the to turn into the Ace of Diamonds. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS Ol- ■*xAl'iL> HE CONVERTIBLE ACES T H E GAT; ..Spades fix a Heart all the cards of which are arranged in i ad on the Ace of Hearts, a Spade, successive order—that is to say, if it in the manner already described. consists of fifty-two cards, every thir­ Show these two Aces to the company; teen must be regularly arranged, with­ then, taking the Ace of Spades, you out a duplicate of any one of them. desire a person to put his foot upon After they have been cut (do not suf­ it, and as you place it on the ground fer them to be shuffled) as many times draw away the Spade. In like manner as a person may choose, form then into you place the seeming Ace of H earts thirteen heaps of four cards each, with under the foot of another person. You the colored faces downward, and put then command the two cards to change them carefully together again. When their places. this is done, the four kings, the four jacks, the four queens, and so on, must THE METAMORPHOSED CARDS necessarily be together. In the middle of a pack place a card that is a little wider than the rest, TO TELL THE NUMBER OF CARDS which we will suppose to be the Jack BY THE WEIGHT of Spades, under which place the Seven Take a parcel of cards—say forty— of Diamonds, and under that, the Ten and privately insert among them two of Clubs. On the top of the pack put long cards; let the first be, for example, cards similar to these and others on the fifteenth, and the other the twen­ which are painted different objects, ty-sixth, from the top. Seem to shuffle viz.: the cards, and cut them at the first First C ard...... A Bird. long card; poise those you have taken Second Card...A Seven of Diamonds. off in your hand, and say, “There must Third Card . . . .A Flower. be fifteen cards here;” then cut them Fourth Card.. Another 7 of Diamonds. at the second long card, and say, Fifth C ard___ A Bird. “There are but eleven here;” and pois­ Sixth Card.... A Ten of Clubs. ing the remainder, exclaim, “And here Seventh Card..A Flower. are fourteen cards.” On counting them, Eighth Card.. .Another Ten of Clubs. the spectators will find your calcu­ Then seven or eight indifferent cards, lations correct. the Jack of Spades, which is the wide THE CONTINUOUS FRONT AND BACK card, the Seven of Diamonds, the*Ter HANDPALM AND TRICKS N of Clubs, and the rest any indifferent CONNECTION THEREWITH. cards. Two persons are to draw the two We will first of all describe the method cards that are under the wide card, of working this trick with one card. which are the Seven of Diamonds and To begin with, the card is held be­ the Ten of Clubs. You take the pack tween the tips of the middle finger and in your left hand, and open it at the thumb, as illustrated. wide end, as you open a book, and tell the person who drew the Seven of Diamonds to place it in that opening. You then blow on the cards, and with­ out closing them, instantly bring the card which is at top, and on which a bird is painted, over that Seven of Dia­ monds. To do this dexterously, you must wet the middle finger of your left hand, with which you are to bring the card to the middle of the pack. You then bid the person look at his card, and when he has remarked on the change, to place it where it was be­ fore. Then blow on the cards a second time, and bringing the Seven of Dia­ monds, which is at the top of the pack, to the opening, you bid him look at his card again, when he will see it is The first and little fingers now grip that which he drew. You may do the the card. same with all the other painted cards, The two middle fingers are next bent either with the same person or with and brought down under the cards and him who drew the Ten of Clubs. round to the front of same, thereby The whole artifice consists in bring­ causing the card to revolve between ing the card at the top of the pack the first and fourth fingers, as though to the opening in the middle, by the on an axis, and assume the position on wet finger, which requires no great the back of the hand clipped between practice. Do not let the pack go out the first and second an^ third and of your han^s fourth fingers. 125 THICKS WITH CARDS OIl SLEIGHT OP HAND After considerable practice 't will ing a glimpse of the cards as they are be found that all the movements will brought from the back to the front become practically one{ and the card of the hand, or vice versa. This can, will apparently vanish from the hand however, be surmounted by practising

arithoT.it the most astute spectator hav- before a mirror, as you will then be ng the faintest idea where, especially able to ascertain the exact angle at f the manipulation is accomplished which the movement can be indectet- vith a sweeping motion, as though the ably accomplished. To further heighten the effect of the sleight when the card is in position with the back of the hand, of course, facing the audience, push the card down into the palm as shown. This movement, which is absolutely impossible to describe in writing, will become apparent to the learner after a few trials. With the card in this position, of course, the fingers and thumb can be spread wide apart. When manipulating more than one card, the above movements all hold good with the exception of bringing the cards from the back of the hand to the front. Instead of the thumb pulling card were thrown in the air. 1 the cards round to the front, which Now to reverse the card to the front ■ would practically be impossible, it sim_ of the hand again, so as to enable the j ply presses upon them, while the first back of the hand to be shown to the ! finger moves to the other end of the audience. cards, and pushes them down. To accomplish this, the fingers bend The foregoing is the correct method forward so that the thumb can press of executing the continuous front and on the middle of the face of the card, back handpalm. and pull it sharply round to the front of the hand, where it is held between TO MAKE A CARD PASS FROM the fingers, as shown. ONE HAND INTO THE OTHER The principal difficulty encountered Take two Aces, the one of Spades by vtulents when learning this sleight and the other of Hearts; then put on vc. orevent the audience from catch- that of spades the mark of Hearts, 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND 17 der will indicate the spots of the card Many have for some time past been which has been drawn: if the remain­ accustomed to present this series of der is 11, it has been a jack, if 12 a tricks at all private engagements, queen, but if nothing remains it has and can, without hesitation, emphati­ been a king:. The color of the king cally state that for parlor or drawing may be known by examining which room work there are no better card- one among the cards is wanting. The tricks extant. trick may thus be explained. In the The principal secret of the whole deck of cards there are 13 of each of the tricks herein explained lies in suite; the sum of all the spots of each the novel prearrangement of the pack suite, calling the jack 11, the queen of cards used. 12, and the king 13, is seven times 13, The cards should, in the first place, or 91, which is a multiple of 12; con­ be laid out on the table in the order sequently, the quadruple of this sum as shown. is a multiple of 13 also; if the spots The second card (the four of spades) then of all the cards be added together, should now be placed on (the ace of always rejecting 13, we must at last clubs), then the third one (the seven find the remainder equal to nothing. of hearts), and so on to the end. If a card the spots of which are less It will be observed that each card is than 13, has been drawn from the three higher than the one immediately deck, the difference between these behind it, the arrangement of the spots and 13 Avill be what is wanting suites being: Clubs, spades, hearts, dia­ to complete that number; if at the monds. The precise arrangement of the end, then, instead of receiving 12, we suits is practically immaterial, and it re&ch only 10, for example, it is evi­ would, perhaps, be as well for the stu­ dent that the card wanting is a three, dent to adopt a system of his own. The and if we reach 13, it is also evident arrangement of the Court cards is: that the card wanting is equivalent to Jac k — 11, queen— 12, Jungr— 13, so that 13, or a king. supposing the bottom card of the pack was the jack of clubs, the performer TO CHANGE A PACK OF CARDS would instantly know that the next INTO VARIOUS PICTURES card beginning at the top of the pack Take a pack of cards and paint the is the ace of spades. backs of one-half of the pack with The performer should, by means of what figures you think fit—as men, his pocket or otherwise, exchange the birds, women, flowers, etc. Also paint pack he has been previously using-, for the faces of the other half of the cards a similar pack, prepared as just des­ cribed. in the same manner; thus you will For stage or drawing-room purposes, have a complete pack of odd pictures, a very ingenious little piece of appara-. and may, by showing the faces of that tus has recently been devised to enable part of the pack whose backs only the artiste to indetectably change one have been painted, and then by a mom­ pack for another, and as i t would b© entary shuffle, apparently transform most useful in this case, we think we them into a set of grotesque fig-ures th a n g iv e a produce much amusement. cannot do better readers EXPERT CARD MANIPULATION description of it. Seven or eight cards are selected (not forced) in a bunch from a pre­ viously shuffled pack. The performer can instantly name the chosen cards. The artist first shuffling the pack, a spectator is then asked to name any card, whereupon the performer states its correct position in the pack, and to jorroborate his assertion, immediately proceeds to cut the pack at the desired card. Three cards are selected by a mem­ ber of the audience, and, without look­ ing at same, are placed by himself in his pocket. The performer now calls out the name of a certain card, which we will suppose is the eight of dia­ monds, and requests the spectator to take one of the three cards from his The principal part of this piece of pocket, which upon examination, is apparatus consists of a metal ring, 6 shown to be the eight of diamonds. or 8 inches in diameter, to which is This is repeated with the remaining attached a black cloth bag. To the ring two cards. is soldered a flat strip of metal, having The foregoing are but a few of the riveted to it a spring clip. By means many brilliant and bewildering tricks of a sharp point protruding from the possible of performance by the method rear, the apparatus can be easily and 've are about to describe. quickly attached to the back of a chair 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND by pushing the point into the wood­ work. In the clip is inserted a pack of Second Method cards arranged in the order I have ex­ The pack Is held in both hands, a s plained, which the performer must sub­ shown. The lower half of the pack is stitute for an ordinary pack by means now removed with the right hand, b u t of the following ruse: In doing so a few of the hindermost W ith the pack in the right hand, he cards of the pack in the left hand are takes hold of the chair in such a man­ left slightly protruding as in the ner that the thumb only is visible to illustration. the audience, the pack and the fingers The parcel In the right hand is now being hidden by the back of the chair. replaced on the front of the pack. I f The left hand now takes hold of the this is repeated with rapidity, the e f­ seat of the chair, which is set on one fect to the audience will be that the side, as if it were in the way. During cards are thoroughly mixed, whereas this operation the pack of cards is in reality they are only cut. dropped from the right hand into the bag, and the duplicate pack removed from the clip. If this is done neatly and without undue haste, the audience will never suspect that a change has been accomplished. A more simple change, but which wil} answer the purpose quite as well, especially for an impromptu perform­ ance, is to simply place the pack which you have been using in your coat pock­ et, and an instant later take out from the same pocket the prepared pack. The performer next proceeds to make what is known as a false shuffle with the prepared pack. As this is a most useful adjunct to many beautiful ex­ periments with cards, we will describe tw o of the methods employed in its execution.

First Method T his is one of the very many decep­ tive sleights originated by the cele­ brated Professor Charlier, and is un­ doubtedly the best false shuffle in ex­ istence, but owing to the great amount o f practice required for its successful accomplishment, it is rarely made use ©f except by professionals, but if thoroughly mastered the performer can deceive experts. The pack is held in the left hand, and three or four of the top cards are passed into the right. Now pass the re­ maining cards in small parcels alter­ nately above and below these but the cards that are passed below are taken from the top of the left-hand packet, and the cards that are placed above are passed from the bottom of the left- TO LET TWENTY PERSONS DRAW hand packet, this being exactly the re­ TWENTY CARDS AND MAKE verse of the ordinary movement. EACH DRAW THE SAME To pass the cards from the top of Let any person draw a card and put the left-hand packet to the bottom of it back into the deck again, but where the right-hand packet is fairly easy, you know where to find it; shuffle th ey being pushed forward with the the cards as before directed; then let left thumb, but it is the reverse move­ another person draw a card, and be ment that is difficult. sure he takes the same the other did; We recommend this style of false proceed in the same way with all the shuffle to the lover of deceptive persons but the one who may be last sleights, but for those who do not care who is to draw another card, which to devote sufficient time for its inde- also return to the pack, and shuffle, tectable execution we herewith des­ till you have brought both the cards cribe a very easy, but at the same time together. Then showing the last card effective false shuffle originated by to the company, th e other w ill show ttte author. the trick . i25 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT O F HAND 10 TO MAKE A CARD JUMP OUT OF other denomination. The thirteenth or T H E P A C K A N D RUN ON last set will be of the same denomin­ T H E T A B L E ation as the card at' the bottom, which This feat, if well managed, will ap­ you contrived to see, and as they will pear marvelous. Having forced a card be placed in exactly the reverse order a fte r of that in which you first of all picked upon one of the company, shuf­ them up, you may without difficulty fling it up with the rest of the pack, calculate of what denomination each you will know the card by feeling. of the sets consists. For example, sup­ You then take a piece of wax and put pose an eight was the bottom card, you it under the thumb nail of your right would find after a little calculation, hand, and by this wax you fasten an that after being dealt out in the man­ end of a hair to your thumb, and the ner above described, they would be other to the chosen card; spread the placed in the following order: King, 3ards upon the table, and make use 5, 7, 1, 4, 6, Queen, 2, 9, jack, 3, 10, 8; of afome magic words, when, by draw­ and repeating in your own ipind the ing*' about your right hand, the chosen words which you have committed to ^,rd is conducfed round the table. memory, and reckoning the cards back­ TELL ALL THE CARDS WITHOUT ward, you would say— r O 8 10 3 jack SEEING THEM Eight thousand and three men and This trick, which is founded on the 9 2 6 4 science of numbers, enables you to tell ninety-two women; sixty-fourth regi- every card after they have been cut 1 7 5 as often as your audience pleases, al­ ment beats the seventy-fifth; up starts though you only see the backs of them. king It is thus performed: A pack of cards the king with, etc. are distributed face uppermost on the table, and you pick them up in the TO INSTANTLY NAME ANY CA> following manner—6, 4, 1, 7, 5, king, CHOSEN 8, 10, 3, jack, 9, 2, queen. Go through this series until you have picked up The pack is spread out fanwise to & the whole of the pack. It is not neces­ spectator with a request for him to sary that you should take up the whole of one suit before commencing another. In order that the above order may not be forgotten, the following words should be committed to memory: 6 4 1 The sixty-fourth regiment beats the 7 5 king seventy-fifth; up starts the kin°r, with 8 10 3 jack eight thousand and three men and 9 2 queen ninety-two women. The cards being thus arranged, the cards must be handed to the company to cut; they may cut the cards as often as they like, but it must be understood that they do it in bridge fashion—that is, by taking off a portion of the cards, and placing the lower division on what was formerly the upper one. You then take the pack in your hand, and with­ out letting your audience perceive, cast a glance at the bottom card. Having done this—which you may do without any apparent effort—you have the key of the whole trick. You then deal out the cards in the ordinary way in 13 different sets, putting four cards to each set—in other words, you deal out the first cards singly and separately, and then place the fourteenth card above the first set, the next upon the second set, and so on throughout, until you have exhausted the whole pack. You may be (certain now that each one of these thirteen sets will contain select a card. When this is done the four cards of the same denomination— cards at the point where the chosen thus, the four eights will be together, card was removed, thereby bringing and so with the four queens, and every the card that was next above the sel- 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND ectedone to the bc/ttom o f the pack, are followed just as stated below, the and the artiste has simply to catch a student will soon comprehend the idea. glimpse of the bottom card, which tells To begin with, the card is named by him the name of the chosen one. For the audience, the performer so holding instance, suppose the bottom card was the pack as to see at a glance, and the s ix of spades, the performer knows note the last four cards, as seen. These that the selected card must be the nine last four cards are: Ten of hearts, king of hearts, because hearts follow spades of diamonds, three of clubs, and six of and, therefore, the next card (the one spades. drawn) i& a heart, and it will be re­ membered in the arrangement of the pack that each card is three higher than the preceding one. Therefore, if the bottom card is the six of spades, the selected card will be the nine of hearts. ’’O TELL THE NAMES OF ANY NUM­ BER OF CARDS CHOSEN A spectator is asked to take out a *ew cards in a bunch—eight or nine, or in fact as many as he likes. The cut is now made, and the bottom card noted, and the performer is able to instantly name the chosen cards. When this has been done, if the cards are re­ placed on the bottom of the pa«k one by one in the order chosen, the pack Say the card named is the three of will still be in the correct condition spades. Now, according to table No. 1, I’or farther tricks. you subtract the given card (three of When naming the cards selected, so spades from the first card of the suit as not to give any astute member of (six of spades), which leaves three. the audience a chance to observe that Next multiply by four—twelve; there­ each card is three spots higher than fore, the three of spades is the twelfth the preceding one, it is advisable not card from the top. Now cut the cards to call then out in their exact order. as near as possible to what you think Supposing the cards selected were is twelve. Should you cut at the elev­ the jack of spades, ace of hearts, four enth card—which would be the king of of diamonds, seven of clubs, ten of clubs—you immediately know the card spades, king of hearts, three of dia­ following a club is a spade, and if you monds, and six of clubs, the performer cut at the king of clubs, the next card •ould name them in the following m an­ is three spots higher—the three of ner, thereby eliminating all suspicion spades—so you open at the next card. of prearrangement: Or, should you cut the pack at the thir­ Jack of spades, ace of hearts, then teenth card, which in this case would pass the four of diamonds and call the be the six of hearts, you know a heart seven of clubs, then call the four of is preceded by a spade, xand if you have diamonds. But in placing the four of the six of hearts, the card before it is diamonds on the bottom of the pack, ■ he three of spades. be sure to get it under the seven of clubs so as not to upset the order of Table No. 1 arrangement. The performer will now The following table should be th have the seven of clubs on the bottom, oughly learned and memorized. so will instantly know that the ten We will suppose the performer has o f spades is the next card to be called. effectex* the change of packs, and is In performing this trick generally ready to find any given card in the a&k three or four members of the audi­ pack, therefore he proceeds as follows: ence to select a number of cards—all Subtract the given card from in bunches— from the top of the por­ first card of suit from the bottom tion of cards held in the left hand. of pack. Now multiply it by four, It is well to ask those who have and deduct the number of cards selected cards to mix them before following the first card of suit. starting to call out their names, as . We will refer again to illustration* this disarranges the order of the cards Say the given card is the five of they hold. otherwise they might note hearts, subtract five from the first card .he cards in their possession were call­ of suit, which is the ten of hearts, five. ed in the order they held tfcem. Now multiply by four—twenty, less x’O TELL THE EXACT POSITION IN the number of cards before the first THE PACK OF ANY CARD NAM­ card of suite from the bottom, which ED BY THE AUDIENCE is three, which, deducted from twenty leaves seventeen. Therefore, the five The following explanation w ill re- of hearts is the seventeenth card from uire a little study, but if the rules the top. 125 TRICKS WITH CAROS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND J M Table No. 2 upon it, as if you would And out the I f the card named is higher than secret by smelling. Then, putting your the first card of suit from the bot­ hands behind your back or under the tom, subtract the given card from table so that they cannot be seen, th irte e n . you take away from the bot­ N ow add the number o f first card tom of the pack 28 cards—that is one of suit, then multiply by four, less fewer than the number you marked the number of cards following the down beforehand—and place them on first card of suit, and you will have the top, taking great care not to put the exact number of the given card one more or less, as Inaccuracy in this fro m the top of the pack. respect would certainly cause the trick to fail. You then return the pack to In the illustration the last four cards the person who thought of a card, re­ are the ten of hearts, king of dia­ questing him to count the cards from monds,, three of clubs, and six of the top, beginning from the number of spades. the card he thought of. Thus if that We will say the five of clubs is card were the thirteenth, he will com­ named, the three of clubs being the mence counting fourteen, and so on. first card of suit. When he has called twenty-three stop As it is impossible to subtract five him telling him that the number you from three, you deduct it from thirteen marked down was twenty-four; and (as explained in table No. 2), which that the twenty-fourth card, which leaves eight. Now add the number of he is about to take up Is the first card of suit, which is three—elev­ Queen of Hearts; which he wilt en; multiply by four—forty-four, less find to be correct. the number of cards following the first Be sure and have the number you card of suit (which is one)—forty- name greater than that of the first three. You will upon examination now position of the card in the pack; for find that the forty-third card is the instance, twenty-four is greater than five of clubs. thirteen. With a little careful practice the student will soon become familiar with ON THE SPOT the arrangement, and that which now Secretly note the bottom card of the appears somewhat difficult will be­ deck. Fan the deck out as in Fig. 2 come very simple and easy. and allow anyone to choose a. card and We can, within the space of three conceal its identity from you. Then cut seconds, cut the pack to any given the cards into two piles, placing the card. card they select on the top pile. The pile with your secret card on bottom TO T E Ll A CARD THOUGHT OP AND ^ NAME ITS POSITION IN J T H E D E C K You take the deck, and present It to one of the audience, desiring him to shuffle the cards well, and also if vie chooses, to give them to another person to shuffle the second time. You ihen cause the pack to be cut by sev­ eral persons, after which you select one out of the company whom you re­ quest to take the pack, think of a card, and fix in his memory, not only the card he has thought of, but also its position in the deck, by counting 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on from the bottom of the pack, as far as, and including, the card thought of. You may offer to go into another room while this is being done, or remain with your eyes band­ aged, assuring the company that, if they desire it, you will announce be­ forehand the number at which the card thought of will be found. Now, suppos­ ing the person selecting the card stops at No. 13 from the bottom, and that this 13th card is the Queen of Hearts, and supposing also that the number you have put down beforehand is 24, you w ill return to the room or remove your should then be placed on the top pile. handkerchief, as the case may be, and By going through the deck, you can without putting any question to the readily pick out the selected card. It person who has thought of a card, you Is the one immediately below your se­ ■»sk for the pack, and rest your n o a « c re t card. 22 126 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND TO CHANGE THE CARDS BY WORD though* of; when he will thus end it OF COMMAND as the card or number he first thought of, and thereby enable you to ascer­ You must have two cards of the tain what that was. For example, sup­ same sort in the pack, for example a pose he thought of the number three, duplicate King: of Spades. Place one and touched the sixth card, if ten next to the bottom card, and one at the be added to six it will of course make top. Shuffle the cards without dis­ sixteen; and if he counted that number placing those three, and show a person from the sixth card, the one touched, that the bottom card is the Seven of in a retrograde order, reckoning three Hearts. This card you dexterously slip on the sixth, four on the fifth, five on aside with your finger, which you have the fourth, six on the third cards, and previously wetted, and taking the king so on, it will be found to terminate on of Spades from the bottom, which the the third card, which will therefore person supposes to be the Seven of show you the number the person Hearts, lay it on the table, telling him thought of. When the person is count­ to cover it with his hand. Shuffle the ing the numbers, he should not, of cards without displacing the first and course, c a ll them out aloud. last card, and shifting the other King of Spades from the top to the bottom TRICKY CARDS show it to another person. You then draw that privately away, and taking Hold the deck as shown below, pre­ the bottom card which will then be the Seven of Hearts, you lay that on the taole, and tell the second person (who believes it to be the King of Spades) t j cover it with his hand. Yo\I then command the cards to change places, nd when the two parties take off their viands and turn up their cards, they will see, to their great asto .’shment, that your commands are obe.-ed “TWIN-CARD” TRICK Another trick performed by means of “twin," or duplicate cards, as in the previous case, is to show the same card apparently on the bottom and at the top of the pack. One of these duplicate cards may be easily, obtained. In fact, the pattern card which accompanies •every deck may be made available for that purpose. Let us suppose, then, for viously noting the bottom card. Slir a moment that you have a duplicate the cards backward until someone tellr of the Queen of Clubs. You place both you to stop. Slip the top cards from the of them at the bottom of the deck, and r-.-st of the deck, also slip oiit the bot­ make believe to shuffle them, taking tom card with your thumb, and with­ care, however, that these two keep out looking, name it as the card at their places. Then lay the pack upon which you were told to stop. the table, draw out the bottom card, show it, and place it on the top. You TO PRODUCE A CARD FROM A NUT then command the top card to pass to OR CHERRY STONE the bottom, and on the pack being turned up the qompany will see with Burn a hole through the shell of a surprise that the card which they had nut or cherry stone and also through just seen placed upon the top is now at the kernel, with a hot iron, or bore it with an awl, and with a needle pick the bottom. out the kernel, so that the hole in it may be as wide as the hole of the shell; TEN CARDS BEING ARRANGED IN then write the name of a card on a A CIRCLE TO TELL THAT WHICH piece of fine paper, roll it up hard, put ANYONE THOUGHT OF it into the nut or cherry stone, stop Place the first ten cards of any suite the hole up with some beeswax, and in a circular form, as illustrated, the rub it over with a little dust and it Ace being counted as one. Request a Will not be perceived; then, while some person to think of a number or a card, bystander draws a card, observe, “It and to touch also any other number is no matter what card you draw ;” and or card; desire him to add to the num. if you use cards well, you will offer "ber of the card he touched the number him and he will receive a similar card •of the cards laid out—that is, ten; then to that you have rolled up in the nut. bid him count that sum backward, be­ Give him the nut and a pair of crack­ ginning at the cnrd he touched, and ers, and he will find the name of the reckoning that card at the number he card he drew rolled up in the kernel. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND 23 TO KNOCK A CARD THROUGH spectator will think that the ashes T H E T A B L E have really vanished, and that the To knock a card through a table, remnants are in process of being form­ ■ecretly moisten the back of your hand. ed afresh into the miniature card which is discovered in tho watch.

THE CARD IN THE EGG Before commencing this trick, you must provide yourself with a hollow stick about ten inches long and three- quarters of an inch in diameter. You must also have another round stick to fit this hollow, and slide in it easily, with a knob to prevent its going through the tube, which must be open at both ends. The stick which fits the tube must be of the full length of the tube, exclusive of the knob. Strike it sharply on the deck. Then Having steeped a card in water for tuickly slip your hand under the table twenty minutes, you oeel off the lace of it, and double it up twice, so that and produce the card. it becomes just one-miarter the s'ae of an ordinary card. Then roll it nr> TO BURN A CARD, AND AFTER- tightly, and thrust it up the tube Ini WARI) FIND IT IN A WATCH it becomes even with the bottom. You This is a trick out of which the pro­ then thrust in the stick liii it just fessors of the art of legerdemain make touches the card. much capital. In order to carry it out You now take a. deck of cards, and successfully, it is necessary to observe request one of the company 1 0 ui.iv/ the following directions: You, in the one; but be sure to let it be a similar first place, borrow from the jjpectators one to that you have in the stick. You three watches, which are placed hi can do this by forcing. As soon as it boxes resembling dice boxes, and then is returned to the pack you shiurJe laid upon a table and covered with a the cards, and while you are shutilin

TH E CARD FOUND OUT BY THE POINT OF A SWORD When a card has been dra'vyn, you place it under the long- card, and bj shuffling- them dexterously you bring it to the top of the pack. Then lay or throw the pack on the ground, ob­ serving where the top card lies. A handkerchief is then bound round your eyes, which ought to be done by a con­ federate in such a way that you can ce the ground. A ‘ sword is then put in your hand, with which you touch several of the cards, as if in doubt, but never losing sight of the top card, in which at last you fix the point of the sword and present it to the party who drew it. TO NAME THE CARD UPON WHICH ONE OR MORE PERSONS FIX There must be as many different cards shown to each person as there are cards to choose; so that, if there The illustration shows the manner are three persons you must show three of preparing the card; A A are slits cut cards to each person, telling the first one on each side of the card, as near to retain one in his memory. You then the edge as possible; BB are tiny rings the three cards down, and show soldered to the clips CC (all paint*''* fie** i25 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND A and on that of Hearts the mark of do not force one, but let him choose spades; which you will do easily, by whichever he pleases; while he has it splitting a card of each color, which in his hand and is looking at it, care­ you are to cut out with dexterity, in lessly turn the pack in your hand, so order, that the m ark be very neat; then that the position of the cards may be rub lightly on the back of the spade reversed; then bid him put the card he and heart that you have cut, a little has chosen into the center of the deck; soap or very white pomatum; put the shuffle and cut them, and you m ay to mark of H earts on the Acp of Spades, a certainty know the card chosen by and the mark of Spades on the Ace of its head being upside down, or in a Hearts, taking care to let the one cov­ different direction from the rest of er the other completely, and make all the pack. your preparations before you begin your experiments. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF FIVE -Then divide your deck of cards into CARDS AT ONE TIME two parcels, and under each parcel put one of your two Aces thus prepared; First Method afterwards take with your right hand In this trick the performer takes one the parcel under which is the Ace of card and back-palms it. He then takes Hearts, and with your left that where another one between the middle finger Ace of Spades is. and thumb, and slides it on to the back Then show the company that the Ace of the hand on top of the first one„ of Hearts is on the right hand and the the first and fourth fingers slightly Ace of Spades on the left; and when opening to receive it. The other three everybody is convinced of it say, cards are treated in the same manner. “Ladies and gentlemen, I command the This sleight will be found somewhat Ace of Hearts, which is in my right difficult at first, but, being so effective hand to pass to my left, and the Ace of it will amply repay the performer for Spades to take its place." It may be any time he may spend on its Require ... proposed to have both arm s tied to ment. prevent their joining and communicat­ ing. Second Method All the secret consists of is making a In this method of performing L.ie quick movement when you give your foregoing trick, after you have back' command. During this movement you palmed one card, in the act of placing must slip with dexterity your little the second card in position, you palm finger over each of the marks, in order off with your left hand from the back to rub it off, whereby the m arks of of the right the first card vanished. Spades and Hearts that weu'e stick­ This is, of course, repeated with the ing to the two cards, by the means remainder. Each card vanished is explained before, will be displaced; palmed off into the left hand in the you then show to the company that the act of placing the next one in position cards have obeyed your command, by between the finger and thumb of tho passing from the right to the eft, and right, thus enabling the performer to from the left to the right without your show that he only holds one card in hands communicating. his right hand. The remaining four can then, it desired, be produced from the THE CARD HIT UPON BY GUESS side of the left leg. Spread part of a pack before a per­ son in such a way that only one pic­ ture card is visible, and arrange that it shall appear the most prominent and striking card. You desire him to think of one, and observe if he fixes his eye on the court card. When he tells you he has determined on one, shuffle the cards, and turn them up one by one; when you come to the face card, tell him ttiat is the one. If he dees not seen to fix his eye on the court card, you should not hazard the experiment but frame an excuse for performing some other amusement. UPS AND DOWNS This is a very simple way of ascer­ taining what card a person chooses. TO TELL THE CARD THAT A PER­ When you are playing with the deck, SON HAS TO U C H ED W IT H drop out the diamonds, from the Ace H IS F IN G E R to the Ten, and contrive without being You previously agree with a confed­ perceived, to get all the other cards erate on certain signs by which he if with their heads in t\e same direction; to denote the suite, and the particula then request a person to choose a card; card of each suite; thus; If he touch -—5 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND the first button of his coat, it signifies about two feet from the table, let an Ace; if the second, a King, etc. them drop, and the top card w hich, These preliminaries being; settled, you as has been said, must be the one give the deck to a person who is near drawn, will fall face uppermost, and your confederate, and tell him to sep­ all the others with their faces toward arate any one card from the rest while the table. you are absent, and draw his finger once over it. He is then to return you THE PRODUCTION OF CARDS ONE the pack, and while you are shuffling AT A TIME AT THE FINGERTIPS the cards, you carefully note the sig­ FROM THE BACK-HAND nals made by your confederate; then PALM turning the cards over one by one, you This is one of the prettiest effects directly fix on the card he touched. in connection with the Back-hand Palm. TO DISCOVER ANY CARD IN THE After the performer has vanished by PACK BY ITS WEIGHT OR SMELL means of the back-hand palm, say five Desire any person in the company to cards, and shown both sides of the draw a card from the pack and when hands to be empty, he proceeds to re­ he has looked at it, to return it with produce the cards one by one at the its face downward, then pretending to finger tips. weigh or smell it nicely, take notice of This is accomplished in the following any particular mark on the back of manner: the card; which having done, put it among the rest of the cards, and desire the person to shuffle as he pleases; then giving you the pack, you pretend to weigh each card as before, and pro. ceed in this manner till you have dis­ covered the card he had. If the long card is used, you can take the pack, shuffle the cards in a ‘careless, easy manner and without looking at the pack hand it to the spectators. THE FOUR ACCOMPLICES Let a person draw four cards frora the pack, and tell him to think of one of them. When he returns you the four cards, dexterously place two of them under the pack, and two on the top. When i t is desired to produce one Under those at the bottom you place card from the back of the hand, the four cards of any sort, and then, ta k ­ thumb bends round to the middle o f ing eight or ten from the bottom cards, the nearest end of the outside card and you spread them on the table, and ask literally pulls it away from the rest, the person if the card he fixed on be the first and fourth fingers aiding in among them. If he says no, you are sure its release by slightly relaxing their pressure. Once quite free from the it is one of the two cards on the top. back of the hand, the card is pushed You then pass those two cards to the by the thumb into the position shown bottom, and drawing off the lowest of in the previous illustration. This must them, you ask if that be not his card. a t o f If he again says no, you take that be done very slowly first, but, card up, and bid him draw his card from the bottom of the pack. If the person says his card is among those you first drew from the bottom, you must dexterously take up the four cards that you put under them, and placing those on the top, let the other two be the bottom cards of the pack, which draw In the manner before described. THE TURN-OVER FEAT Having found a card chosen which you have previously forced, or any card that has been drawn, which you have discovered by the means before described, in order to do the feat clev­ erly, convey the card privately to the course, in the actual performance al? top of the deck; get the rest of the the above movements must be made cards even with each other, making simultaneously. If this is done with a the edge of the top card project a slight wave of the hand, it will appear little over the others; then holding to the audience that the performer them between your finger and thumb. actually caught the card from the air. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HA\ The effect of this trlcl: can be fur­ cards,’’ meanwhile countine with the ther heightened by the performer alter thumb of the right hand those in the having- caught, say, three cards, bow­ 1- ft hand. Under cover of this move­ ing his right hand to be absolutely ment the two hidden cards are again empty, back and front, and the fingers back-palmed in the right hand and re­ spread wide apart. The following is the produced at the will of the artist. procedure. TIIE NERVE FEAT Force a card, and request the person who has taken it to put it in the pack, and shuffle the cards; then look at them again yourself, very closely, find the card, and place it at the bottom; cut them in two parts; give him the part containing his card at the bottom, and desire him to hold it between his finger and thumb just at the corner; after telling him to hold them tight, strike them sharply, and they will fall to the ground, except the bottom one, which is the card he has chosen. T H E CARD IN A MIRROR As each card is produced at the right Get a round mirror; frame size of hand finger-tips, it is placed in the a card. Make the glass in the middle left hand. (Illustration shows the ex­ move in two grooves. act positions of both hands.) When the The quicksilver must be scraped off performer has caught the third card, equal to the size of a card. The glass in the act of placing it in the left hand must also be wider than the distance between the frame by the width of a. card. Then cement a piece of pasteboard, on which is a card that must exactly fit the space, over the part where the quicksilver is rubbed off. This card must at first be placed behind the frame. Secure the mirror against a p- r4ion through which are to go two ga, by pulling which an assistant as- ily move the glass in the groc and consequently make the card aL ar or disappear at pleasure. The assistance of a confederate is not absolutely necessary to this- per­ formance. A table may oe piaced under he secretly leaves the cards, still back, the mirror, and the string- t made to palmed, behind the three cards now pass through a leg, communicating in the left hand, gripped by the second with a small trigger, c be pushed by finger. (Illustration which represents a the foot, taking occasion to dust the back view showing the position of the glass with your handkerchief, as if it were intended to make the card appear more conspicuous. THE MAGIC TEA-CADDIES Two cards being drawn by differen persons, are put into separate tea caddies and locked up. The performer changes the cards without touching’ them, or any confederacy. The caddies are made with a copper flap, which has a hinge at the bottom, opens against the front, where it catches un­ der the bolt of the lock, so that, when the lid is shut and locked, the flap will fall down upon the bottom; the per­ former places two cards that he in­ tends to be chosen between the flap hand and cards.) and the front, which, being lined with The right hand is now shown empty, green cloth, may be handled without and the performer makes the remark: any suspicion; then he desires the first “No, certainly not. Nothing between person to put his card into one of the he fingers. All we have here is three caddies, taking care it be that which 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND contains the contrary card to the one him to think of, or, from a desire to that he chose, and the second into the complicate matters, or some other. It, other; he then desires they will lock however, requires considerable pres­ .hem up, which unlocks the flaps, cov­ ence of mind, and the power of con­ ers their cards, and, when openfed, pre- cealing from your audience what your jents the contrary ones to the view of rea l o b je ct is. the company. TO TELL A CARD BY SMELLING IT GUESSING A CARD THOUGHT OF Before commencing it you must take Spread out the cards on the right one of the party into your confidence hand in such a manner that, in show­ and get him Vo assist you. When all ing- them to the audience, not a single is arranged, you may talk of the strong card is wholly exposed to view, with sense of smell and touch which blind the exception of the King of Spades, people are saifl to possess, and state the uppermost part of which should be that you could, when blindfolded, dis­ clearly seen without any obstruction, tinguish the face cards from the rest, either from the fingers or the other and profess your willingness to at­ cards. When you have thus spread tempt it. The process is this: After you them out—designedly in fact, but ap ­ have satisfied the company that your parently at random—show them to one eyes are tightly bound, take the deck of the spectator*, requesting him to in your hands, and holding up one of think of a card, and at the same time the cards in view of the whole com­ take care to move the hand a little, so pany, feel the face of it with your fin­ as to describe a segment of a circle, in gers. If it is a face card, your con­ order that the audience may catch federate, who should be seated near sight of the King of Spades, without to you, must tread on your toe. You noticing that the other cards are all then proclaim that it is a face card, partially concealed. Then shuffle the and proceed to the next. Should you cards, but in doing so you must not then turn up a common card your con­ lose sight of the King of Spades, which federate takes no notice of it, and you you will then lay on the table face inform the company accordingly; and downward. You may then tell the per­ so »n, until you have convinced the son who has thought of a card that company that you really possess the the one in his mind is on the table, power to which you laid claim and request him to name it. Should be name the King of Spades, which he THE PRODUCTION OF CARDS AT will be most likely to do, you will of THE FINGERTIPS FROM THE course turn it up and show it to the ORDINARY PALM company, who, if they are not ac­ quainted with the trick, will be very much astonished. If, however, he should name some other card—say the Queen of Clubs—you must tell him that his memory is defective, and that the card could not have been the card he at first thought of. While telling him this— which you must do at as great length :is you can, in order to gain time—* shuffle the cards rapidly, and appar­ ently without any particular purpose, until your eye catches the card he 1’ >.s just named (the Queen of Clubs.) Put it on the top of the deck, and still appearing to be engrossed with other thoughts, go through the first false shuffle, to make believe that you have no particular card in view. When you Ivive done shuffling, take care to leave The original method of producing ‘ he Queen cff Clubs on the top of the the cards singly at the finger-tips, with deck; then take the pack in your left the back of the hand toward the audi­ hand, and the King of Spades in your ence met with a great amount of suc­ right, and while dexterously exchang­ cess. We are pleased to acquaint our ing the Queen of Clubs for the King of readers with the correct method of its .Spades, say, “What must I do, gentle­ execution. men, that my trick should not be a From the ordinary palm the cards failure? What card should I have in are transferred to the finger palm my right hand?’’ They will not fail The little finger now very slightly re­ *o call out the Queen of Clubs, upon laxes its pressure on the cards, when which you will turn it up, and they it will be found upon practice that one will see that you have been successful. card will be released. This trick, when well executed, always The thumb now comes down under hns a good effect, whether the specta­ the end of the card and pushes it up tor thinks of the card you extended into the position depicted, the back *25 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND the hand, of course, facing the audience. cards, and one of the kings to perform Some are usually in the h a b it of per* the office of constable. Secretly place one of the jacks at the bottom of the deck, and lay the other three with the constable down upon the table. Amuse the spectators with a tale of three knaves going to rob a house; one got in the parlor window, (putting a jack at the bottom of the deck, tak ­ ing care not to lift the deck so high that the one already at the bottom can be seen,) one effected his entrance at the first-floor window, (putting an­ other jack in the middle of the deck), and the other by getting on the para­ pet from a neighboring house, con­ trived to scramble in at the garret window, (placing the third jack at the top of the deck;) the constable vowed he would capture them, and closely forming this sleight with from twenty- followed the last jack, (putting the five to thirty ordinary cards, but three king likewise upon the top of the deck). You then request as many of the company to cut the cards as please and tell them that you have no doubt the constable has succeeded in his ob­ ject, which will be apparent when you spread out the deck in your hands, as the king and three jacks will, if the trick is neatly performed, be found together. A very little practice only is required to enable you to convey a jack or any other card secretly to the bottom of the pack. TO GUESS S THE SPOTS ON CARDS AT THE BOTTOM OF THREE PACKETS, WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE DRAWER rr four will be quite enough for the Tell a person to choose as he pleasos beginner to commence with. three cards from a euchre deck, in­ forming him that the ace counts for THE CARD IIV THE OPERA GLASS eleven, the face cards for ten, and the Procure an opera glass two inches others according to the number of nd a half long; the tube to be made spots. When he has chosen these three oi ivory so that it may not appear tell him to put them on the table, and opaque. Place it in a magnifying glass to place on each as many cards as of such power and at such a distance, spots are required to make fifteen. that a card three-quarters of an inch That Is to say, in the e eight long1 may appear like a common-sized cards would have to be put on the card. Seven of Clubs, four cards on the Ace, At the bottom of the tube lay a circle nnd five above the Ten. Let him re­ of black paste-board, to which fasten turn you the rest of the pack, and a small card, with the pips or figures ("while pretending to count something on both sides and in such a manner in them) count how many remain. Add. that, by turning the tube, either side sixteen to this number, and you will of the glass may be visible. have the number of spots in the three You then offer two cards to two per­ bottom cards, as may be seen in this sons similar to the double card in the example, where twelve cards remain, glass. You put them in the pack again, to which num ber add sixteen, and the or convey them into your pocket; and amount (twenty-eight) is the number after a few flourishing motions, you on the three cards. tell the persons you have conveyed Take the twelve picture cards (jacks their cards into the glass; then you kings, queens) from the deck, and show each person his card in the glass place them in three rows, feur in by turning it in the proper position. each. Commencing witfc the fourth card in the bottom roT* on the r?ght, .TACKS AND T H E CONSTABLE in’rfi them up loujeways, one ov»>- ;ck the four jacks out of a pack of other, and offer them to any *>f I)-.* 14 125 TRICKS WITH UARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HANL company to cut. it is of no consequence the bottom, the succeeding numbers jhow often they are divided. Next deal botfh being three. Now laying the cards Them out in four divisions, and the down one by one, the twentieth card king, queen and jack of each suit will will be that he fixed on. You may, of be found together. course, in like manner, show the per­ The key to this mystery consists in son his card without asking him at observing the following arrangements what number it shall appear, by fixing in the disposition of the cards at first. on any number yourself. Place one of each suit in the upper row: begin the next row with a card TO SEPARATE THE TWO COLORS of the same suit that you left off with OF A PACK OF CARDS BY ONE CUT in the first, and commence the third To perform this trick, all the cards or last row with a face card of the of one color must be cut a little nar­ same suit that you left off with in the rower at one end that at the other. second. You show the cards, and give them to any one that he may shuffle tnem; THE MAGIC OPERA GLASS then holding them between your hands Before you begin to perform this one hand being at each extremity, with extraordinary illusion prepare a table one motion you separate the Hearts of figures exactly like the following: and Diamonds from the Spades and 1 1. 131 10.132 19.133 Clubs. N 2. 231 11.232 20.233 PASSING A CARD THROUGH 3. 331 12.332 21.333 THE KNEES, ETC. 4. 121 13.122 22.123 A card—say the ace of spaJdes— is 5. 22.1 14.222 23.223 held in the left hand in the position 6. 321 15.322 24.223 shown. It now vanishes, immediately 7. I ll 16.112 25.113 1 reappearing in the right hand, having 8. 211 17.212 25.113 apparently passed through the knees, 9. 211 18.312 27.315 , It is next passed back to its original This table is placed in an opera glass position, and then again into the right so as to be visible. The best plan is hand. to cut them out of a book, and paste them on a circular piece of card, soak­ ed in oil so as to make it transparent, or they may be placed in the crown of of your hat as occasion may serve. Take a deck, consisting of twenty-sev­ en cards only, and give them to a person; desire him to fix on anyone, then shuffle them, and return the deck to you. Place the twenty-seven cards in three heaps, by laying down one alternately on each heap; but' be­ fore you put each card down, show it to the person without seeing it your­ self. When the three equal heaps are completed, ask him what number from twenty-seven he will have his card appear, and in which heap it is. Now look at your magic table, and if the first of three numbers which stand against that number it is to appear at be one, put that heap a t to p ; if the number be two, put it in the middle; and if three, put it at the bottom. Then divide the card into three heaps in the same manner a second and a third time and his card will be at the number he chose. For the sake of making the elu­ cidation perfectly clear, we will give an example: Suppose he desire that his card shall be the twentieth from the top, and the first time of m aking the heaps he says it is in the third heap. You then look through your opera glass at the magic table, and see that the first figure against the number twenty is two. You therefore put that heap in the middle of the pack. The second and Both hands now assume the attitude third tim es you in like manner put illustrated. The card is caused to ap ♦Ha heap in which he says it is at parently pass along the arm into the 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND 1 left hand, and then back into the right. only. Both cards are now back-palmed, I t is then taken in the left hand and and hands shown empty. One only of vanished, both hands being show n the cards is “caught” at the finger-tips empty, and the card is reproduced at and this is forthwith taken into the the-, fin g e r-tip s as th o u g h ca u g h t in the left hand and held in the first position a ir./ for passing through the knees. It is now (with a swinging motion of the hand as if to throw the card behind the knee) back-palmed, and the dupli­ cate (which has remained on the back of the other hand) produced in the right hand. This can be repeated at

the wish of the performer. A certain time must be spent in getting the hands to work harmoniously together. If this is done, the illusion is perfect. The passing of the card along the arm, of course, .is accomplished in the same manner The right hand now places the card which is visible to the audience be­ tween the second finger and thumb of the left hand, which forthwith back- palms it on top of the duplicate. Both This is accomplished chiefly by the oerformer being able to execute the front and back palm with both hands with equal facility. There are, o f course, two cards used, and as the me­ thod for secretly obtaining possession of the duplicate card is somewhat uni­

hands are now shown empty, and as a finale the two cards are produced as one and laid on the table, this being easily brought about by tightly hold­ ing them together as in the first stage of the trick. THE CARD DISCOVERED UNDER que and novel, we had better describe THE HAN DERKERCHIKF this trick in detail as it, is the founda­ Let a person draw any card irom tion of innumerable other tricks. the rest, and put it in the middle of In the first place, the performer the pack, you make the pass at that takes in reality two aces of spades, place, and the card will consequently but held closely together so that they be at the top; then placing the deck appear to the audience as on© card on the table, cover it with a handker­ 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND chief, and putting your hand under it, the cards, and observing the rule al­ take off the top card, and after seem­ ready given, before, in which row the ing to search among the cards for card thought of is. Let us suppose it to some time, draw it out. be in E ; take up this row, and the row This amusement may be performed F, as above directed, and form by putting the cards In another per­ them into two new rows on the son's pocket, after the pass is made. right and left of B; after these Several cards may also be drawn and on the right and left of B; after these placed together in the middle of the operations, the card thought of must pack and the pass then made. be the first of one of the perpendicular rows H and I; if you therefore ask THE CARD UNDER THE HAT in which row it is, you may easily This trick is performed in the same point it out, having desired them to manner as is directed for finding a be shuffled, the better to concoal the card placed under a handkerchief. artifice. AT THE GAME OP BRIDGE WHAT TO TELL HOW MANY CARDS A PE T •PROBABILITY THAT THE FOUR SON TA K ES OUT OF A PACK, HONORS W ILL BE IN T11E AND TO SPECIFY EACH CARD HANDS OP ANY TWO To perform this, you must so d*s PARTNERS p:>se a phjiiiet pack t>f cards, (in which De Morie, in his “Doctrine of 1 the cards from 2 to G are excluded) that Chances,” shows that the chance is you can easily remember the order in nearly 27 to 2 that the partners, one which they are placed. Suppose, for of whom deals, will not have the four instance, they are placed according honors; that it is about 23 to 1 that to the words in the following line: the other two partners will not have Seven Aces, Eight Kings, Nine them; that it is nearly ^ to 1 that they Queens, and Ten Jacks; w ill'n ot be found on any one side; and that every card be of a different that one may bet about 13 to 7. with­ suite, following each other in th.s out disadvantage, that the partners order: Spades, Clubs, Hearts and Dia­ who are first in hand will not count monds. Then the eight first cards will honors; that about 20 to 7 may be be the Seven of Spades, Ace of Clubs, bet that the other two will not count Eight of Hearts, King' of Diamonds, them; and, in the last place, that it Nine of Spades, Queen of Clubs, Ten is 25 to 16 that one of the two sides of Hearts and Jack of Diamonds, and will count honors, or that they will so of the rest. not be equally divided. You show that the cards are placed promiscuously, and you offer them with SIXTEEN CARDS BEING DISPOSED their backs upward to any one, that ht IV TWO ROWS. TO T E L L TH E may draw what quantity he pleases CARD WIIiOH A PERSON you then dexterously look at the card HAS THOUGHT OP that precedes and that which follows The cards being arranged in two those he has taken. When he has .ows, as A and B, desire the person to counted the cards, which is not to be think of one, and 'to observe well in done in your presence, (and in order which row it is. ; to give you time for recollection, you A B C BD E B ‘ P H B 1 tell him to do it twice over, that he 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 c ♦ may be certain,) you then take them 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 from him, mix them with a pack, shuf­ 0 0 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 fle, and tell him to shuffle. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 During all this time you recollect, * 0 .0 0 0 0 by the foregoing line, all the cards he 0 0 0 0 0 0 took o\it; and as you lay them down, 0 0 0 0 0 0 one by one, you name each card. 0 0 0 0 0 0 Let us suppose that the card thought TO GUESS T H E NUM BER OP SPOTS * is in row A; take up that whole row. ON ANY CARD WHICH A PER­ i the order in whi n it stands, and SON HAS DRAWN FROM dispose it in two roxvs C and D, on A D ECK the right and left of the row B; but fake the deck of 52 cards, and des! in arranging them, take care that the some person to draw out one, without first of the row A may be the first showing it. Call the Jack 11, The Queen of the row C; the second of 12, the the row K in g 13. Then add the spots of A, the first of the row D; the thirdthe first card to those of the second; of the row A, the second of the the last row sum to the spots of the third, C, and so on; then ask again in vertical and so on, always rejecting 12 and rows in which row, C or D, the card keeping the remainder to all to the thought of is. Suppose it to be in C; following card. It is needless to reck­ take up that row, as well as the row on the kings ^vhich are counted 13. P, putting the last at the end of the If any spots remain at the last card, first, without deranging the order of subtract them from 13. and the remain* l'Z „ 1'aICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND 25 color). The rings are of the familiar ward, and taking the remainder of the split-ring pattern, thereby enabling- pack in the right hand; hold them be­ them to be attached to the card, as tween the thumb and three frrst fin­ shown in the illustration. The two clips gers, taking care to place the cards fit the top joints of the first and fourth upright, so that the edges of those in fingers, and in this position the card i« ready r the trick. your right hand may rest upon the t o back of those in the left, thus form ­ ing a right hand angle with them. In this way the four fingers of the left hand touch the last of the upright cards in your right hand. It is neces­ sary that the cards should be placed in this position, and that once being attained the rest of the trick is easy. These preliminaries having been gone through, one of the company, at your req-uest, examines the top card of the half pack that rests in the palm of your left hand, and then replaces it. Having done this, you request him to look at it again, and to his astonish­ ment it will have vanished, and an­ other card will appear in its place. In order to accomplish this, having a s­ The thumb now pushes the card to­ sumed the position already described, ward the finger-tips (the slits allowing you must dampen the tips of the four t to slide along the rings), and it will fingers that rest against the last card .hen be found quite easy for the two of the upright set in your right hand. uniddle fingers to bend round under When the person who has chosen a the card which forthwith assumes the card replaces it, you must raise the position depicted. upright cards in your right hand very quickly, and the card will then adhere to the dampened fingers of your left hand. As you raise the upright cards, you must close your left hand skill­ fully, and you will thereby place the last of the upright cards—which as we have explained adheres to the fingers of your left hand—upon the top of the cards in the palm of your left hand, and when you request the person who first examined it to look at it again, he will observe that it has boen changed. TO PRODUCE A MOUSE FRGty A P A C K OF CARDS Have a pack of cards fastened to­ For the reverse movement the thumb gether at the edges, but open in tne pulls the card round into the first po­ middle like a box, a whole card being sition. In a word, practically all t.h$ glued on as a cover, and many loose movements necessary for executing the ones placed above it, which require sleight with this card are identical to be dexterously shuffled so that the with those described in the sleight-of- entire may seem a real deck of cards. and method, with the exception that The bottom must likewise be a whole m the method now explained it is im­ card, glued to the box on one side only, possible for the cards to fall or become yielding immediately to exterior pres­ visible between the fingers. sure, and serving as a door by which Five minutes’ practice with a card you convey thte mouse into the box. of this description suffices to enable Being thus prepared, and holding the the student to execute this trick in an bottom tight with your hand, require indetectable manner. one of the company to place his open With two similar cards, of course, hands together, and tell him you mean the effects of passing a card through to produce something very marvelous the knees from hand to hand, etc., can from this pack of cards; place the be accomplished by having a card a t­ cards then in his hands, and while you tached to each hand. engage his attention in conversation, take the box in the middle, throw the THE VANISHING CARD pack aside, and the mouse will re­ Divide the deck, placing one-half in main in the hands of the person who Dpim of the left hand face down­ held the cards. 26 ...... or bottom sn they can be dealt at will. DEALING TOO MANY. Often a dealer will give Card Secrets Exposed 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 DEALING. But skill at this CRIMPING FOR THE 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 STOCKING 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 irian- to BLIND SHUFFLE, 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 BLIND CUT. Most sub­ ends, the crimping will be done accordingly. terfuge in card dealing employs these basic accom­ SHORT DECK. A simple way of obtaining an plishments, though in addition a knowledge of advantage in many games is simply by removing SECOND DEALING 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 Terms them, you will find yourself at a tremendous ad­ STOCK. Certain desirable cards, usually placed at bot­ vantage in any ordinary card playing contest; and, tom or top of deck, which are to be controlled. more important, able to recognize deception when JOG. A protruding card, about a quarter inch, which employed by others. is used to locate particular stocked card or cards. While shuffling, if top card is to be jogged, it is pushed over little finger end by left thumb, little Advice information finger preventing more than one card moving. If Frank. and first card, is to be-jogged (first card in right hand) HOLD OUTS. Hold outs r.re usually mechanical it is done by shifting right hand slightly toward contrivances which fit up the sleeve or under table either end of left hand packet during shuff'e. so to hold any desired cards. Devices of this type are that first card drawn off bv left thumb will protrude over end of left-hand pacfcet. rarely used by card experts as they are cumbersome CULLS. The stocked or desired cards. To cull is the and easily detected except when playing with am a­ art of locating and placing desired card1.. This is teurs. done in gathering up cards for deal or during the shuffling process when desired cards are stocked at PREPARED CARDS. Also called “readers.” ton or bottom of deck. Printed prepared cards are manufactured, but seldom BLIND. Shuffling, riffling, cutting or culling which ap­ used by professionals, since they prefer use of stan­ pears proper, out which covers up card manipula­ tion. dard card decks. Any standard deck can be marked SH U FFLE & RIFFLE. Shuffle is the old-fashioned by hand or “ doctored” quite easily. In some in­ method of shuff ing cards from hand to haml; stances, only a few desired cards are identified, be­ riffling is modern method of shuffling on table by ing careful so they can be read if either end is springing ends of two packets into each other. visible. Marking is done with pen and colored ink to match printed color; or by obliterating part of a Stocking design. It is very easy to do, since only the smallest The most ordinary method of stocking is in ar­ mark is necessary. The person familiar with the code ranging cards as discreetly as possible while taking can quickly “ m id ” the cards from the back, but tricks, or making discard, or while gathering up for even the expert would have difficulty detecting a deal. There is no sleight of hand in this. A play it. marked deck without spending many minutes care­ if he keeps his wits about him, finds many oppor­ fully examining the backs of several cards. tunities to prearrange to some extent for his deal- Some players can mark cards while a game is in With aid of a partner, possibilities are doubled. process by use of a sharp object such as a fingernail; But remember that whole deck must be tampered use of “ fanning” powder to make n certain card with before shuffle begins. more slippery; “ roughing” up a card to make it less slippery; “arching" cards to make their presence in Method No. 1 the stack more noticeable. In some cases cards are In casual games a practiced operator can run up specially trimmed to make certain cards easily lo­ several desirable cards, by methods that will not cated by their feel; this is described elsewhere in stand scrutiny in a professional game. This is done this book. HOW TO BEH 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 fingers on other side, and first finger curled up suspected. against back. Right hand covers face, fingers at one 3. If suspected, quit. If for any reason, you feel end. thumb at other. Left thumb then springs cards that, you do not have the other players complete so that index can be seen. (Fig. 1 ). As desired confidence, do not employ any further deception, unless absolutely necessary. REPLACING THE CUT AS BEFORE- 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 \\\ Figure 2 uted to thoughtlessness. \/J HOLDING OUT FOR CUT. Sometimes a dealer card is located, lower side of deck is opened at that will hold out a caTd or stock of caTds during cut by point, and left second, third and little fingers in­ palming selected cards, then replacing them on top serted. and card is drawn or slipped out to top of 27

deck. (Fig. 2). Additional cards can be brought to easily brought to bottom by under cutting with top in like manner until desired stock is completed; right hand, and as packet is placed on top it is if desired, indifrerent cards of required number can done with a sliding movement, the tip of right be interspersed between desired cards, depending thumb lightly slides across top card of under paoket, upon number of players so that deck can be run pushing it a little over inner side. Left thumb is at from top "cold ", bearing in mind, of course, that side to receive it, and foams a break, »o that it you must still retain control during the shuffle and becomes under card of top packet when squared up. cut as described later. We now have a TOP STO CK, The cards are again cut including the break for but this can be transferred to a BOTTOM STOCK another riffle, making certain to retain desired card by a single shuffling motion. at bottom while you search for another desirable top card, which can be brought down to join the Method No. 2 bottom stock in same manner. Two or three de­ Hold deck in left hand, back to palm, between sirable cards are usually sufficient advantage in thumb and fingers, as described for first method, ordinary game- Undesirable cards are sometimes but in covering face with right hand, bring first stocked for dealing to opponents thus making con­ three fingers straight across outer end of deck, the spiracy appear innocent if detected. little finger against lower side at comer and thumb on top side at corner close to right first finger. Blind Shuffling 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. Position for Shuffle 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 Right 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 little finger. This will cause it to protrude about half Figure 7 an inch at end, but it is entirely concealed by po­ sitions of hands. Deck can be again sprung rapidly portion at 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. peated till required number are jogged. (Fig. 6). This position, and especially that of first and little fingers of left hand, is essential for process of blind shuffling and stocking. First and little fingers hold and locate jogs. Should be used for true as well as blind shuffles. To Retain Top Stock Seize about half deck from beneath with right hand (under cut), 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 When desired cards are jogged, jog several of top shuffle off balance of cards in right hand on top of cards at same end, concealing opposite end with those in left. Then seize with right hand all cards right fingerB, then shift left thumb and second and beneath in-jog card (Fig. 7) which protrudes over third fingers to inner side comers, and turn deck little finger of left hand, and throw them in orfe face downward, shifting right hand to top. at packet on top. Location is found by right thumb opposite comers in position to make running cut. solely by sense of touch and without any hesitation. With left hand draw off top* packet, sliding out In-jog card is concealed by cards on top and held jogged cards with same movement, dropping them in position by little finger. on table (Fig. A). Completing cut by placing packet in right hand on top leaves desired cards on bottom. Method No. 3 During process of riffle shuffle, glimpse of top card is obtained by slightly in-jogging top card of

To Retain Bottom Stock 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. left hand packet. As thumbs raise comers of two packets, top cajd is raised by left thumb just barely Blind Riffling for Top or Bottom Stock enough to obtain glance at index. Riffle should be Riffling is shuffling cards on table by springing completed so as to leave this card on top. Shuffling ends of cards together and is the more,, conventional continues until top card is desired card. Totf card is method of shuffling at present, though of ten time* 28 125 THICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND both method* are used as it gives a more secur* retaining desired cards. Hold deck in left hand, fealin*. resting one corner against middle of first joint of second finger and other comer of same end in sec­ ond joint of first finger, tha first two joints of

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 Figure 12 Figure 13 top stock is retained. If you desire to preserve the top stock, you cut deck into two packets and when which rest idly along end of deck. Press deck out­ riffling', the bottom packet is riffled more quickly ward as much as possible and rest opposite inner so that when finisKed, there still remains a few end coiner against palm below base of thumb. Rest cards of the top packet (including the top stock). thumb on top of deck, pointing towards second To preserve bottom stock, you riffle a few cards finger tip, which just shows at top of corner. Bring from bottom parket first and then riffle both to­ up little finger against side, and third finger mid­ gether as in a true shuffle; this retains bottom way between second and little fingers. Deck is held stock. in position principally by comers, between second finger and palm below base of thumb. Little finger Blind Cuts may aid in holding deck, but it must be released Blind cut is natural sequence to blind shuffle or when bottom card is pushed out. riffle. As cards are cut in almost all games, there Second finger and thumb do the work. Draw would be little advantage derived from clever shuf­ back thumb a lit’le and push top card oyer in fling, were the order to be subsequently disturbed usual position to seize with right hand for dealing, by cutting. The able card handler with a confeder­ then draw back third finger, which action is con­ ate on his right has the game well in hand. Yet it cealed by overhanging card, until tip rests against is quite possible to play alone and still have a good percentage in one’s favor.

edge of bottom card. (Fig. 13). 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 Seize deck with left hand at sides, near end, be­ apparently to take off top c;ird. (Fig. 1 4 ). Draw tween second finger and thumb, first finger tip bark top card with left thumb and at same instant pressing on top. Seize upper portion of deck with seize bottom card and deal it in usual manner. right hand, at sides, near end. between second finger When done smoothly and quickly it is almost im­ and thumb. Raise deck slightly with both hands and possible to detect. It is easier to do as pack grows pull out upper portion with right hand, but retain smaller. top card in left hand by pressing on it with left first finger tip. (Fig. 1 0 ). Immediately drop left- Second D e u iin g hand packet on table and bring right hand packet Deck is held in left hand much the same as down on top with slight swing, and square up. above, tip of thumb being a little over end of top Action is very simple and easy; movements are card. This enables thumb to come in contact with natural and regular. Process displaces tQp card second card by pushing top card a trifle downwards. sending it to middle and if this blind is used when To deal, left thumb pushes two cards over the side top stock is to be retained, an extra card is placed nearly together, top card perhaps a little in advance there during shuffle. 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 When Playing Alone 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 get it out by upward pressure as left thumb draw:; packet. When placed on top of other packet in left back top card. (Fig. 15). Then left thumb ag:* hand, little finger retains a break in deck to indi­ comes in contict with second card at upper edge. cate location of top stock (below break) or bottom Third finger tip previ nts more than two cards from stock (above break). Break is not noticeable from being pushed over «ide. Top card continues to move front end and is concealed by hand. Cards appear forward and back as seconds are dealt, but rapidity squared up from almost all angles. You must be of backward movement prevents detection. alert to second deal or bottom deal as necessity re­ For a complete description of these manipula­ quires when you reach prepared cards. tions, plus instructions how to palm, advanced methods for stocking, cutting and dealing that will Bottom Dealing withstand professional scrutiny, we suggest you send Bottom dealing is the most useful accomplish­ 50c to Johnson Smith Company. Detroit 7, Michi­ ment since on bottom is most convenient place for gan for “Expert at Card Table” by S. W. Erdnase- 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND 29\ TO SEND A CARD THRU A TABLE fastening it to the bottom of your vest, Request one of the company to draw (it must be prepared before you com­ a card from the pack, examine it, and mence the trick), have the wax plac­ then return it. Then make the pass— ed under the thumb-nail of your right or if you capnot make the pass, make hand, and stick it to the card that was use of the long card—and bring the drawn; spread the cards on the table; card chosen to the top of the pack, and then asking the person to name the shuffle by means of any of the false card he selected, command it to move shuffles before described without los­ from the pack to your hand. By shift­ ing sight of the card. After shuffling ing your position backward, the card the pack several times, bring the card will move also. to the top again. Then place the deck on the table about two inches from the NATURAL SrXES edge near which you are sitting, and Remove the four sixes frofti a dock having previously slightly dampened of cards and lay them face down. Iso the back of your right hand, you strike face down, place six other cards. Fold the pack a sharp blow and the card up a slip of paper with the words “you will adhere to it. You then put your right hand very rapidly underneath the table, and taking off with your left hand the card which has stuck to your right hand, you show it to your audience, who will at once recognize in it tjie card that w as draw n at the commencement of the trick. You must t>e careful while performing this trick not to allow any of the spectators to get behind or at the side of the table, but keep them directly in front, .other wise the illusion would be discovered.

TO CHANGE FOUR JACKS OR KINGS H ELD IN YOUR HAND INTO BLANK CARDS OR INTO FOUR ACES You must have cards made for the purpose of this feat—half cards, as they may be properly termed—that is one half kings or jacks and the other half aces. When you lay the aces over one another, nothing but the kings or jacks will be seen. Then turning the kings or jacks downward, the four chose the six heap” and place it along­ aces will be seen. You must have two side the cards. Tell someone to choose perfect cards, one a king or jack, to one of the heaps and then read the pa­ cover one of the aces, or else it will per. No matter what heap is chosen, be seen; and the other an ace to lay the written statement proves correct, over the kings or jacks. When you one heap—4 sixes; other he —6 cards. wi&h to make them all blank cards, Don’t repeat this trick. lay the cards a little lower, and by hiding the aces, they will all appear How to Mark a New Deck of Cards white on both sides. You may then ask FANNING POW DER: This is a slippery, the company which they choose; exhibit wax-like powder that makes this card slide easier so it can be easily selected from deck. kir»gs, aces or blanks as required. ROUGHING POWDER: Roughs up a card so it does riot slide easily. THE LOCOMOTIVE CARD SILVER DAUB: Silver colored powder\en- Take a deck of cards, and let any abling you to mark cards on back as you play. person draw one from it; tell him to Gives card a glint easily detected but natural look at the card so he will know it loo k in g. ______again, and then put it into the deck. T H E TjlWO CARD TRICK Hold the pack so that the person may The conjurer shows the ace of hearts place his card in it, making sure that and the ace of spades in his hand. He you hold the card next to the bottom turns them face downward, and chal­ open for him to place his card in, lenges any person to name which is maneuvering the cards well that he the ace of hearts and which is the ace may imagine he has placed his card in of spades. The person always guesses the middle of the pack; by this means incorrectly. you know where the card is, and, when Both cards are ordinary aces of you are shuffling them, you can very hearts. A little Sake—see illustration— easily place the particular card on the is placed ov.er one of tho aces, which top of the pack. Then take a piece of makes it resemble the ace of spades. wax with a long hair attached to it, The top of the clip is colored whit© 3t» 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND one side and is backed to resemble the certained by memorizing the following back of the card, so that the cards lines—the words in bold face forming can be turned over and the fake is in­ the key: visible. The faked card is held in the Eight kings threa-ten'd to save Eight, king, three, ten, two, acTen, Nine fair ladies for one sick jack. Nine, five, queen, four, ace, h I x , j a c k . These lines, thoroughly committed to memory, will be of material assistance. The alliterative resemblance will in every instance be a sufficient guide to the card indicated. The order in which the suites come should likewise be One*ij fibred Dir'cHier committed to memory*—namely, Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs. Having sort­ f k r i o f H /M rfy ed your cards in obedience to the above directions, each suite separately, and beginning with Hearts, your deck is “prepared,” and ready for use; and Afeither can n«wr when you have successfully completed CBrrtcrty narxed the exchange you bring forward your rrepared deck, and hand it around to Fikr. be cut. The pack may be cut as often as the audience pleases, but alwayr - ''fic rtfffl'i* Lf fioHi Card) are. bridge-fashion—that is to say, the low­ b<*cfr m\ flees of M w fi er half of the pack must be placed up­ O f ( * r d y i J Chh tfte /o ifJ on the upper at each cut. You now on­ m e m » n d . ly want to know the top card, and you Covers orte will then have a clue to the rest. You fie*r-r. therefore take off the top card, and holding it between yourself and the <~3 J fitm filf:- Jf hif) C a rd n " Homed a Sfeufe f t rj removed light, you see what it is, saying at the 2nd S fitrm .f't be a httirf /f nart.-ref ,1 same time, by way of apology, that heart bottom card rs jheum h be Hit hear this is the old way of performing the trick, but that it is now superseded. Having ascertained what the first "eft hand, and the thumb on the face is, which, for example we will suppose >f the card hides the top of the clip. to be the King of Diamonds, you then When the cards are turned over it is take the next card on your finger, and a simple matter to slip the clip on to poise it for a moment as if you were the other card if necessary. going through a process of mental cal­ culation. This pause will give you time r\0 TELL THE NAMES OF ALL THE to repeat to yourself the two lines giv­ CARDS BY THEIR WEIGHTS en, by means you will know what card The pack having; been cut and shuf­ comes next. Thus; “Eight kings threa­ fled to the entire' satisfaction of the tened to,” etc.; it will be seen that the audience, the performer commences by three comes next. The suite of Dia­ statins that he undertakes, by poising monds being exhausted, you must not each card for a moment on his fingers, forget that Clubs comes next: and so to tell not only the color, but the suite on, until you have described every card and number of spots, and, if a court in the pack. card, whether it be king, queen or jack. For the accomplishment of this most MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE amusing trick, we recommend the fol­ THE JACK OF SPADES lowing directions: You must have two Fixing your eye upon the stoutes packs of cards exactly alike. One of looking man in the room, you ask him them we will suppose to have been in if he can hold a card tightly. Of course use during the evening for the perfor­ h 3 answers in the affirmative. You mance of your tricks; but in addition then desire him to stand in the middle to this you must have a second pack of the room, and holding up the pack in your pocket, which you must take of cards you show him the bottom one, care to arrange in the order herein­ « d request him to state what card it after described. Previous to commenc­ . He will tell you that it is the Jack ing the trick you must take the oppor­ ( f Spades. You then tell him to hold tunity of exchanging these two packs the card tightly and look up at the and bringing into use the prepared c ling. While he is looking up, you deck. This must be done in ?uch a man­ ask him if he recollects his card; and ner that your audience will believe he answers, as he will be sure to that the deck you introduce is the £o, the Jack of Spades, you will reply a a me one you have been using all the -fhat he must have made a mistake, for •evening, which they know has been if he looks at the card he will find it •m H s b uf fir a . The 0 ‘ra-r in which the to be the Jack of Hearts, which will be v isl be arranged will be best a s­ the case. Then handing him the deck 125 THICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND you tell him that if he will look over performer removes the wax and sticks it he will find his Jack of Spades some­ it to one corner of the palmed card. where in the middle of the pack. A handkerchief is now borrowed and This trick is extremely simple and held, as in the illustration, the back easy of accomplishment. You procure of the hands, of course, facing the an extra Jack of Spades, and cut it in audience (in the illustration they are half, keeping the upper part, and drawn as they appear to the performer). throwing away the lower. Before showing the bottom of the pack to the company get the Jack of Hearts to the bottom, and lay over it, unperceiv­ ed by the company, your half Jack of Spades and under pretense of holding the pack very tight, put your thumb across the middle, so that the joining may not be seen, the legs of the two jacks being so similar that detection is impossible. You then give him the lower part of the Jack of Hearts to hold, and when he has drawn the card away, hold your hands so that the faces of the cards will be turned to­ ward the floor. As early as possible •ou take the opportunity of removing the half-jack. The left hand now places the corner A CARD CAUGHT ON THE CORNER A of the handkerchief in the right OF A BORROWED HAND­ hand, as shown, at the same lime KERCHIEF pressing corner B on to the wax. The above trick is a variation of a In this position the handkerchief can much older feat of 'catching chosen be waved in the air to show it is un­ cards on a sword, and is to be recom­ prepared, but when the spectator mended, inasmuch as no special appar­ throws the cards, the performer slips atus is necessary., the end between his fingers, and. again waving the handkerchief among the falling cards, releases the card from the palm, which thereupon becomes visible' on ihe end of the handkerchief the effect being that the performer has actually caught one of the falling: cards.

A card is selected, not forced, and replaced, and the pack shuffled and held by a spectator. The performer now requests the loan of a gentleman's handkerchief, which he shows to be an ordinary one. The gentleman holding the pack is now re­ quested to throw the same in the air, and, as the Cards cfes^e^d, the perform, Tho above trick does not require er waves the handkerchief among m vh practice when once thu reader is them, whereupon the chosen caroi proficient }n the "pass” ar'r: "palm,” caught on the corner of seme both but. is a very pretty and effective ex- being immed{at«Ty passed for inspec­ periia - at. tion. The following is Mie explanation TO M AKE T H E COS RT of this effective l5*tle tr*ek: On the top vest-button the perform­ WAYS COMF TOGETHER er has a small portion of soft adhesive Take the pack, and separate all the wax. Wh^n the chosen rard is returned Kings, Queens and Jacks. Put. these the pass is made and the card is palm­ all together into any part of the pack ed off, the pack being immediately you fancy, and inform one of the com­ handed to a spectator to thoroughly pany that he cannot in twelve cuts shuffle. While this is being done the disturb their order. The chances arp 32 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND 500 to 1 in your favor; but with a no­ card in question will be found in front vice the feat becomes impossible. This of the one which was at first the bot­ is a very amusing and easy trick. tom card. This trick may also be rendered more wonderful by placing one half of the THE CARD OF ONE COLOR POUND above number of cards at the bottom IN A PACK OF TH E OTHER and the other at the top of the pack. Separate the pack into two parts, placing all the red cards in one pile, TO TURN A CARD INTO A RIRD and all the black cards in the other. One of these packs you conceal in your Having a live bird in your sleeve, pocket. You let any person draw a card take a card in your hand, exhibit it, and then draw it into your sleeve with from the other pack, and while he is your thumb and little finger, giving examining the card, substitute the pack the arm a shake sufficient to bring the in your pocket for the one you hold in bird into your hand, which you may your hand. Let him place his card in the pack you have taken from your then produce and let fly. pocket, and shuffle as much as he pleases. On receiving back the deck, OF TWENTY-FIVE CARDS LAID IN you will at once recognize the card he FIV E ROWS UPON A TA BLE, TO has drawn by the difference of color. NAME THE ONE TOUCHED To perform this trick you need a THE “THURSTON” METHOD OF confederate. The latter sits near the THROWING CARDS table, has both his hands closed, and Many performers of note (in particu­ points out the cards touched by the lar, Felicien Trewey) have made a finger which he leaves extended. The specialty of throwing cards among the fingers of the right hand indicate th© audience to a great distance. cross rows counted from above down­ The cards used should be of fairly ward; tne fingers of the left hand, on stiff pasteboard, with as smooth a sur­ the contrary, point out the number of face as possible. the card in the cross row counting from left to right. If, for example, the third card from the left in the second cross row is the one touched, your accomplice leaves the second finger of the right hand, and the third finger of the left hand :nbent, closing all the others. This must be done naturally, and not _n fco open a manner as it might be eas ly detected. Ti ' ’ ira SEVERAL CARDS WHICH ;E \ DIVIDED INTO TWO HEAPS T >r this trick, you take a complete ir. k. wli.ch has been divided into two k/Ucii heaps that all the Aces, Nines, The card Is held lightly between the Sevens, Fives, Threes are in one heap, second and third fingers, the back of and all the Kings, Queens, Jacks, Tens, the hand facing the audience. The hand E.ghts. Sixes, Fours and Twos are now moves to the shoulder, and, with in the other heap. a short, quick jerk, lets the cards go. You now let several of the company This movement imparts a terrific vel­ draw cards out of either of the heaps; ocity to the card and with practice, change the heaps unperceived, and let it will be found th a t the performer can the person place the odd cards—as Ace throw the same in to the back of any Nine, etc.— into the heap of even cards, theater or hall. and vice versa. On running over the Many can always manage in the cards, you easily discover the drawn course of their performances to get cards, the even cards being in the heap several cards into the gallery of any of odd cards, and the odd cards in theater. the heap of even cards. THE FOUR INSEPARABLE KINGS TO FIND A CERTAIN CARD AFTER Take the four Kings, and behind the IT HAS BEEN SHUFFLED last of them place two other carus, IN TH E PACK so that they may -not be seen. Then As you shuffle the cards, note the spread open the four kings to the com­ ■bottom one, being careful not to shuf­ pany, and put the six cards to the bot­ fle it from its place. Then let any one tom of the pack. Draw one of the kings draw a card from the middle of the and put it at the top of the pack. Draw pack, look at it, and place it on the one of the two cards at the bottom, and top. Let him then cut the deck. The put it toward the middle. Draw the 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND S3 other, and put it at some distance from of striking it, first one ball is removed the last, and then show that there re­ and then the other, the false pack be­ mains a king at the bottom. Then let ing doubled and palmed. any one cut t-he cards, and as there re­ mained three k in g s at the botton, they OF TWO ROWS OF CARDS, TO TELL w ill then be all together in the middle THE ONE WHICH HAS BEEN o f the pack. TOUCHED TO NAME SEVERAL CARDS WHICH You lay two rows of cards upon the TWO PERSONS HAVE DRAWN table, six or eight in each row. You FROM A PACK have arranged with an accomplice that the upper cards, counted from the left Divide a piquet pack into two parts signify days, the upper cards hours. by a long: card; let the first part con­ You now leave the room, requesting tain a quint to a K ing in Clubs and one of the company to touch a card. Spades, the Four Eights, the Ten of On returning, you step to the table Diamonds, and Ten of Hearts, and let and begin to look for the card, when, the other part contain the two quart majors in Hearts and Diamonds, the after a while your accomplice cries out FoOr Sevens, and the Four Nines. The out, as if in mockery, “Yes, you might cards may be divided in any other way look for it three days, and never find that is easy to remember. it,” if the touched card is the third Then shuffle the cards, but be care­ card from the left in the upper row. ful not to displace any of those cards You pay no attention, however, to hla of the last part which are under the remark, but continue to search. At lar.t long card; you then cut at that card, you apparently lose your temper, and and leave the pack in two parts; next, mix . the cards together, exclaiming, present the first of these parts to a “The cards are false today!” Then you person, and tell him to draw two or reflect again, shuffle the cards, place three cards, and place the remainder them in two rows, and, after some hes. on the table; you present the second itation, point out the touched card. parcel in like manner to another; then haring dexterously placed the cards TO HOLD FOUR KINGS OR FOUR drawn by the first person in the sec­ JA C K S IN YOUR HAND, AND TO ond parcel, and those drawn by the CHANGE TH EM SIDDENLV second person in the first parcel, you INTO BLANK CARDS, shuffle the cards, observing not to dis­ AND TH EN INTO place any but the upper cards; then FOUR ACES spreading the cards on the table, you name those that each person drew, You must have cards made for £!• which you may very easily do, by ob­ purpose of this feat: half cards, as they serving the cards that are changed in may be properly termed—rthat is, one -ach parcel. half Kings or Jacks, and the other half Aces. When you lay the Aces one over V PACK OF CARDS CHANGED TO the other, nothing but the King or TWO LARGE BALLS Jacks will be seen. Then turning the Kings or Jacks downward, the four A pack of cards shown from all sides Aces will be seen. You must have two - :u Id in the left hand, but upon being perfect cards, one a King or a Jack, stroked changes to two parti-colored balls. to cover one of the Aces, or else it An ordinary pack must be secretly will be seen; and the other an Ace to exchanged for a dummy—in reality, a to lay over the Kings or Jacks. When in you wish to make them all appear oase opening the center. blank cards, lay the cards a little low­ er, and by hiding the Aces they will appear white on both sides. You may then ask the company which they choose, and exhibit the Kings, Aces or Blanks as required. TO SHUFFLE THE CARDS TN SUCH A MANNER AS ALWAYS TO KEEP ONE CERTAIN CARD AT THE BOTTOM In shuffling let the bottom card be always a little before, or, which is best, a little behind all the rest of the cards; put it a little beyond the rest before, right over your forefinger, or else which is best, a little behind the rest, placed in such a manner thnt the each end place a spring ball and little finger of the left hand may slip close the “pack.’’ It is then exhibited up and meet with it; at the first, shuf­ as an ordinary pack and. under cover fle as thick as you can; and, at last 3 •iiJ fRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND tL: ■<., .1 i lie board the bottom card, THE CIRCLE OF FOURTEEN CARDS Yv'i.h us .jany more as you would pre­ To turn down fourteen cards which serve for any purpose, a little before lie in a circle upon the table, observing or a little behind the rest; and be sure to turn down only those cards at which to let your forefinger, if the pack be you count the number seven. laid before, or your little finger if To do this you must bear in mind the pack be laid behind, always creep the card which you first turned down. up to meet with the bottom card; and Begin counting from any card from when you feel it, you may there hold one to seven, and turn the seventh card it till you have shuffled over again; down. Starting with this card, you r-hich being done, the card which was again count from one to seven, and lirst at the bottom will come there turn the seventh card down, etc., etc. again. Having perfected yourself in When you came to the card which you this manner of shuffling, you may ac­ first turned down, you skip it, passing complish anything you please with a on to the next, and so on until all the pack of ten, twelve, or twenty cards. cards are turned. This is a very enter­ taining trick. THE ELECTRIC CARDS Ten cards are handed to a spectator THE MAGIC SLIDE, OR TO MAKE on a tray with a request for him to A CARD DISA PPEA R IN take two. These are duly noted and AN INSTANT .placed among the remaining eight. Divide the pack, placing one half in The performer now takes the cards, the palm of the left hand, with ne two at a time, and passes one in front face of the cards downward; then ta^e of the other. This is repeated until, the balance of the pack in the right /hen in the act of passing the cards, hand, holding them between the thumb iiashes of fire shoot forth from the two and three first fingers, and place the cards, which, upon being turned with cards upright so that the edges of the their faces to the audience, are found cards in your right hand will rest upon to be the two cards selected. the back of those lying in the palm This somewhat startling effect is of the left hand perpendicularly and brought about by preparing ten cards forming a right angle, by which you as follows: will perceive that the four fingers of the left hand touch the last card of the upright cards in your right hand. Be sure you get this position correctly, for the rest of the trick is very simple. You "now request any one of your audi­ ence to examine the top card of the half pack that rests in the palm of your left hand, and to replace it again. Having done this, request him to look at it again, and to his amazement it will have disappeared, and another card will appear in its place. To perform this trick, after you have assumed the position already des­ cribed, you must dampen the tips of the four fingers that rest against the last card of the upright cards in your right hand. You must now raise the upright cards in your right hand very quickly, The front top corner of each card is and the last card will adhere to the coated with potash and sugar and the dampened fingers of your left hand. corresponding back corner is coated As you raise the upright cards you with sulphuric acid. These are laid out must close your left hand skillfully, on a tray with the prepared ends to­ and you will thereby place the last ward the performer. The spectator se­ card of the upright cards—which ad­ lects two. Meanwhile the performer heres to the fingers of your left hand changes the tray from the right to the — upon the top of the cards in the palm ’eft hand, thereby reversing the posi- of your left hand, and when you re­ t in of the cards, so that when the quest the person who examined the top l.: >sen ones are returned the perfor­ card in your hand to look at it once mer knows that the only cards with more, he will see the card you have the prepared corners toward himself just placed there, instead of the one sire the two selected. In passing the he first examined. •cards he is careful only to rub the The principal thing you must ob­ tops; not the bottoms, so that when he serve is to be very rapid and dexter­ -comes to the chosen ones and rubs ous in slipping the card at the back them, they emit flashes of fire, and upon of the upright card from its position bemg turned to the audience are found there to the top of the cards in th* to be the correct ^nes. of your left hand 125 THICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP IIAMJ SS THE TRANSMUTED CARDS pack, and place them each upon the lap of a neighbor of each of the four In a common pack of cards let the above persons, and direct them also Ace of Hearts and Nine of Spades be to cover them w ith the flat of the hand. somewhat larger than the rest. With You can now step with the rest of the the juice of a lemon draw over the Ace cards in front of each of these eight, of Hearts a Spade, large enough to persons, flirt the cards toward the lap cover It entirely, and on each side draw of each, and when each lifts his card four other Spades. from his lap, and looks at it, it ap­ Present the deck to two persons so pears that the four persons upon whose adroitly that one of them shall draw lap you have placed the four Kings the Ace of Hearts, and the other the have altogether different cards, and Nine of Spades, and tell him who draws their neighbors have now the four the latter to burn It on a chafing dish. K in g s. You then take the ashes of that card, This is done in the following man­ Put them in a small metal box, and ner: While you are drawing tho four give it to him who has the Ace of Kings from the pack, and placing them Hearts, that he may himself put that as described, one upon the other in card into the box and fasten it. Then y o u r hand, you a t th.e same tim e, u n ­ put the box for a short time, on the perceived, carry off four other cards, chafing dish, and let the person who and place them fcc'iind tho four Kings, put the card in it take it off and take so that they lie in the hollow of your out the card, which he will see Is hand and cannot be seen. Who” , after changed Into the Nine of Spades. having shown tho four Kings, you push them together in a heap, the four THE SHIFTING CARD Kings, of course come in front of the Put at the top of your pack any card four other cards, which latter now lie you please, say the Queen of Clubs. on the top of the pack. These you dis­ Make the pass, by which you put it In tribute to the first four persons, and the middle of the pack, and make some then deal out the four Kings to their one draw it; cut again, and get the neighbors. same card into the middle; make the pass again, to get it to the top of the pack, and then present it and get it drawn by a second person, who ought THE CARD IN THE RING not be so near the first as to be able Get a ring made of any metal, In to perceive that he has drawn the Which is set a large, transparent stone same. Repeat this process until you or piece of glass, to the bottom of have made five people draw the same which is fastened a small piece of card. Shuffle, without losing sight of black silk; under the silk is to be the the Queen of Clubs, and spreading on figure of a' small card; and the silk the table any four cards whatever with must be so constructed that it may be this Queen, ask If every one sees his either drawn aside or spread by turn­ own card. They w ill reply in the a ffir­ ing the stone around. mative, since each sees the Queen of You then cause a person to draw the Clubs. Turning over these cards, w ith­ same sort of card as that at the bot­ drawing the Queen, 'and approaching tom of the ring; and tell him to burn the first person, ask if that be his it in a candle. Now, the ring being card, taking care while showing It to so constructed that the silk conceals the card underneath it, you first show him that the others may not be i able h im the rin g , th a t he m ay see it is to see it. He w ill tell you it is. Blow not there, and tell him you w ill make on it, or strike it, and show It to a it appear; then rubbing the ashes of second person, and so on. the card on the ring, you manage to turn the stone or glass dexterously THE FOUR TRANSFORMED KINGS round, and exhibit to him the small You have the four Kings of a pack, card at the bottom. and have placed them in your hand in such a manner that one slightly over­ tops the other, yet so that each can easily be distinguished when held TO GUESS THE CARDS WHICH FOUR closely in the hand. PERSONS HAVE FIXED THEIR After showing them to the company THOUGHTS UPON you slide them together, and place You take four cards, show them to them, thus joined, upon the top of the the first person, request him to select pack, which you hold in your right one of them in thought, and lay them aside. Then take four other cards, let hand. You then draw off the four top a second person choose one of them, cards, and lay each in a person’s lap. place these four cards upon the table face downward, directing them to place beside the first four, but a little apart. the flat of the hand upon them. You Proceed in the same way with the now draw four other cards from the third and fourth person. 120 THICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND You now take the first person’s four quite difficult to fulfill the required cards, and lay them, separately, side conditions, and at all events, it will by side. Upon these four cards you take you a long time to do so. place the four cards of the second per­ son in the same order, and so with the THE RISING CARDS four cards of the third and fourth The effect of the illusion to the audi­ person. ence is as follows: You now show each pile to the four Five cards are selected haphazardly persons, one after the other, asking (not forced) from an ordinary pack. each in which pile he finds the card he The five cards are then handed to an has thought of. independent member of the audience, with the request that he replace the As soon as you know this you dis­ same and shuffle them into the pack cover the cards thought of in the fol­ thoroughly. lowing order: The card thought of by The performer now returns to the the first person is, of course, the first stage and holds the pack in the left in the pile in which he says it is con­ hand, with the faces of the cards to­ tained; the second person’s card is ward the audience. He passes the right the second of the pile, so also the third hand completely round the cards to and fourth person’s card is the third prove there are no threads, etc., used. and fourth of the pile. The hands and cards are now left in O the position depicted, being about thre« TI1E CHOSEN CARD REVEALED BY A PINCH OF SNUFF Force a card—suppose for instance, the Five of Clubs—having previously written the words, or drawn the spots, on a clean sheet of paper, with a tal­ low candle; then hand the pack to the person on whom the card is forced; bid him place it where, and shuffle the pack how he pleases; ask for a pinch of snuff, strew it over the sho.: >f p a ­ per, blow the loose grains oft'. the remainder will stick to the places the tallow has touched, thus telling the person what card he has chosen. The paper, if done lightly with the candle will not appear to have any m arks on

HOW TO ARRANGE THE TWELVE PICTURE CARDS AND THE FOUR ACES OF A PACK IN FOUR ROWS SO THAT THERE WILL BE IN NEITHER ROW TWO CARDS OF THE SAME VALUE NOR TWO OF THE SAME SUITE, W H E T H E R COUNTED HORIZON­ TALLY OR P E R- PENDICULARLY The simplest way of performing this trick is to form a diagonal line from the left to the right with the four Aces. Then form another diagonal line, from the right to the left with the four feet apart. The performer next in­ Jacks, crossing the preceding diagonal quires the name of the first card se­ line, and you will have a position sim i­ lected, whereupon it immediately leaves the pack and soars as gracefully as a lar to that shown. bird up to the right hand, where it is This done, place a King and a Queen held between the fingers and thumb, in each of the four spaces which re­ the beauty of the experiment lying in main to be filled, in order to complete the fact that the performer does not the square or four rows, being careful move a muscle during the rising of to choose the suites, and to arrange the card. The card is now placed on the cards in such a manner as to fulfill the front of the pack, and the second the conditions required. card called for, when it immediately By pursuing any other method than ascends in the same manner as the one indicated it will be found first one. This is repeated until the fiv© TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND chosen cards have made their appear- between the first and second fingers, ance. so that when the hands assume the The performer is not compelled to attitude shown the thread is in the stand in any particular part of the position illustrated. stage; in fact, the trick can be just This thread, if of the correct thick­ as successfully presented in any draw­ ness is absolutely invisible, even at ing-room, without the aid of assistants, close quarters. etc.

The principal secret of the illusion depends upon the ingenious piece of apparatus depicted. It resembles the well known self-coiling measuring tape. A piece of very thin, but strong silk thread, say, about three to four feet long, is coiled on a drum within a cylindrical box or case. The thread can be drawn out to its full extent, but upon slight pressure being brought to bear on a little stud on the face of the box it is gradually withdrawn, the slow action of the drum being brought about by an exceedingly weak internal spring. A in the diagram is a safety pin soldered to one side of the case, thus enabling the performer to attach the same to the top of his trousers between the suspender buttons on the When the name of the card Is call­ left side. The thread is now pulled out ed out, the performer, with the elbow about 2 feet 6 inches, a small pellet of of the left arm, presses on the vest at soft wax being attached to the end. the place where he knows the drum The wax is then affixed to the top vest to be, thus causing the thread to recoil button, the slack portion of the cord and the card to rise to the right hand. being tucked into the vest. The card is now replaced on the front The performer now invites five mem­ of the pack, and under cover of ask­ bers of the audience to select cards. ing the name of the next card, the wax He collects them himself, and, in the is fastened to the back card, and the act of turning round to ask another same movements repeated. The rest of spectator to shuffle the cards, changes the cards are similarly dealt with. the chosen five for five other cards by means of the right hand profonde. I f THE ART OF FORTUNE TELLIN^ this is done neatly, the spectator never BY CARDS imagines but what he is shuffling the selected cards into the pack. Take a pack of cards, and making On the return journey to the stage yourself which Queen you please, lay there is ample time and opportunity them out on a table, nine in a row, and to regain possession of the chosen wherever you find yourself placed cards, which are palmed and replaced count nine cards every way, making on the top of the pack, care being yourself one, and then you will see taken that they are in the correct or­ what card you tell to, and whatever der. Now, as the performer turns round that is will happen to you. If the two to face the audience, he very adroitly red Tens are by you, it is a sign of removes the wax, together with the marriage; the Ace of Diamonds is a thread from the vest button and ring; the Ace of Hearts is your house. presses it on the back of the hinder- Ace of Clubs is a letter; the Ace most card. The right hand now passes of Spades is death, spite or quarreling, round th?: cards and secures the thread (for that is reckoned the w orst car** s s 12,"5 TRICKS. WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND in the pack;) The Ten of Diamonds is then let him go to the next uppermost a journey; the Three of Hearts is a card, and so proceed to lay out in heaps kiss; the Three of Spades is tears; the as befpre, till he has gone through the Ten of the same suite is sickness; the whole pack. If there be any cards at Nine of the sarpo is disappointment. the last—that is, if there be not Nine of Hearts is feasting; the Ten enough to make up the last noted card of Clubs going by water; The Ten of the number twelve, bid him to give ! Hearts places of amusement; the Five them to you; then, in order to tell him of Hearts a present; the Five of Clubs t'he number of all the spots contained a bundle; the Six of Spades a child; the in all the bottom cards of the heaps, Seven of Spades is a removal; the do this: From the number of heaps Three of Clubs fighting; The Eight of subtract four, multiply the remainder Clubs confusion; the Eight of Spades by fifteen, and to the product add the a roadway; the Four of Clubs a strange number of remaining cards which he .bed; the Nine or Diamonds business; the gave you; but if there were but four Five of Diamonds a settlement; the heaps, then those remaining cards Five of Spades a surprise; the two red alone w ill show the number of spots Eights new clothes; the Three of Dia­ on the four bottom cards. You need monds speaking w ith a friend; the four n ot see the cards la id out, n o r kn o w of Spades a sick bed; the Seven of the number of cards in each heap, it Clubs a prison; the. Two of Spades a being sufficient to know the number false friend; the Four of Hearts a of heaps, and the number of remaining marriage bed; when several Diamonds cards, if there be any, and therefore come together it is a sign of money; you can perform this feat as w e ll several Hearts love; several Clubs standing in another room, as if p r e a e i.t. drink; and several Spades vexation. If a married woman lays cards, she THE DRAWN* CARD AVAILED TO must make her husband King of the T H E W A L L Ba^me suite the Queen, is of; if a Drive a fiat-headed and sharp-pointed single woman tries it, she may make n a il thi-ough a card — fo r c e n s im ila r her sweetheart what king she likes; one on any person present—receive it the Jack of the same suite is the into the pack—dexterously drop it, ai\d men's thoughts; so that you may know pick up, unseen, the nailed card; place what they are thinking, by telling nine the latter at the bottom of the pad:, cards from where they are placed, which take in your right hand, and making them one; and if any one throw it, with the bottom forward, chooses to try if she shall have her against a wainscot or door; the nailed wish, let her shuffle the cards well, card will be fixed, and the rest, of (as she must likewise when she tells course, fall to the ground. Take care her fortune,) wishing all the time for to place your nail so that the front of some one thing; she must then cut the card, when fixed to the door, may them once, and minding what card she be exposed; to effect this, you must cut, shuffle them again, and then deal also remember to put the back of the them out into three parcels; which card outward placing it face to face done, look over every parcel, and if with the others, when you put it at the card you cut comes next to yourself the bottom of the pack. or next to the Ace of Hearts you w ill have your wish; but if the Nine of Spades is next, you w ill not, for this OX ENTERING A ROOM, TO KNOW is a disappointment; however, you may OF THREE CARDS PLACED SIDE try it three times. IJY SIDE WHICH HAVE BEEN R E V E R S E D —JTH AT IS TO THE MAGIC TWELVE SAY. TURNED UP­ Let any one take the pack of cards, S ID E DOW N shuffle, take off the upper card, and, This trick is a very easy one, as t l . ' having noticed it, lay it on the table, two ends of the cards are cut so a;, with its face downward, and put so to leave a margin of an unequal width many cards upon it as will make up A ll that is requisite is to place all the twelve with the number of 'spots on broad ends of the cards either toward the noted card. For instance, if the you or from you, when upon entering card which the' person drew was a the room, you will at once perceive King, Queen, Jack or Ten, bid him lay which card has been turned. that card with its face downward, call­ ing it ten; upon that card let him lay TO BRING A CARD WHICH IIAS another, calling it eleven, and upon BEEN THROWN OUT OF THE that another, calling it twelve; then WINDOW INTO THE PACK bid him take off the next uppermost card; suppose it to be a nine; let him AGAIN lay it down upon another part of the After you have shuffled the pack table, calling it nine; upon it let him and placed it upon the table, you let lay another, calling it ten; upon the any person draw forth the lowest card, latter another, calling it eleven; and of which there are two alike, at the upon that another, calling it twelve; bottom of the pack; tear it in small 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGIIT OF HAND S9 pieces, and throw them out of the TO NAME TIIE RANK OF A CARD •window. You assure the company that the THAT A PERSON HAS DRAWN pieces just thrown out w ill join them­ FROM A PHIUET PACK ; selves together again, and return as a The rank of a card means whether whole card to the pack. You raise the it be an Ace, King, Queen, etc. You window, and call “Come, come, come!’' therefore first fix a certain number to Then approach the table assuring the each card—thus you call the King spectators that the mutilated card has four, the Queen three, the Jack two, returned complete to its old place in the Ace one, and the ethers according the pack; and let them satisfy them­ to the numbers of their pips. selves that such is the fact. Shuffle the cards, and let a person draw any one of them; then turning A NEW METHOD TO TELL A CARD up the remaining cards, you add the BY ITS WEIGHT number of the first to that of the sec­ You declarevto the company that you ond, the second to the third, and so can tell a cabd by weighing it. You on, till it amounts to ten, which you take the pack in your hand, let one of then reject, and begin again; or if it the company draw a card, look at it, be more, reject the ten, and carry the and place it face downward in your remainder to the next card, and so on hand. You then look at it attentively, to the last; to the last amount add four apparently trying its weight, while in and subtract that sum from ten if it fact you are examining it very closely be less, or from twenty if it be more to see if you cannot discern upon its than ten, and the remainder w ill be back some mark by which you may the number of the card - that was know it again, and if there is none you drawn; as for example, if tho remain­ mark it secretly with your nail. der be two, the card drawn was a You let the person put the card in Jack; if a three a Queen, and so on. the pack, shuffle it, and hand it back to you. You now look through the THE THREE MAGICAL PARTIES pack, take one card after another, and Offer the long card to a person that appear as if you were weighing them, he may draw it and replace it in any while you search for the mark by part of the pack he pleases. Make the which you may discover the drawn pass, and bring that card to the top. card. Next divide the pack into three parcels, putting the long card in the middle THE WINDOW TRICK heap. You then ask the person which Place yourself in the recess of a w in­ of the three heaps his card shall be in. dow, and let any one stand close to He will probably say the middle, in you, as near to the window as possible. which case you immediately show it You now draw a card, hand it to him, to him; but if he says either of the and request him to note it. This you others, you take all the cards in your must contrive to do in such a manner, hand, placing the parcel he has named that you can catch a glimpse of the over the other two, and observing to image of the card reflected in the w in­ put your little finger between that and dow. You now know what the card is the middle heap, at the top of which as well as he does, and can point it is the card he drew. You then ask at out to him after the cards have been what number in the heap he w ill have thoroughly shuffled. his card appear. If, for example, he says t the sixth, you tell down five cards from THE NUMERICAL CARD the top of the pack, and then dexter­ Let the long card be the sixteenth ously making the pass, you bring the in the pack of piquet cards. Take ten long card to the top, and tell it down or twelve cards from the top of the as the sixth. pack, and spreading them on the table, desire a person to think of any one of SEVERAL DIFFERENT CARDS BE­ them, and to observe the number it ING FIXED ON BY DIFFERENT is from the first card. Make the pass at the long card, which w ill be at the PERSONS, TO NAME THAT bottom. Then ask the party the num­ ' ON WHICH EACH PER­ ber his card was at, and, counting to SON F IX E D yourself from that number to sixteen, There must be as many different turn the cards up, one by one, from cards shown to each person as there the bottom. Then stop at the seven­ are cards to choose; so that if there teenth card, and ask the person if he are three persons, you must show three has seen his card, when he w ill say cards to each person, telling the first no. You then ask him how many more to retain one in his memory. You then cards you shall draw before his card lay those three cards down, and show appears, and when he has named the three others to the second person, and number, you draw the card aside with three others to the third. Next take up your finger, turn up the number of the first person’s cards, and lay them cards he proposed, and throw down down separately, one by one, w ith their the card he fixed upon. faces upward; place the second per- 40 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND eon’s cards over the first, and the third Retake it with two fingers of the left over the second's, so that there w ill be hand, and concealing the other end, one card in each parcel belonging to show it to the one drawing the Ace of each person. You then ask each of Hearts, and ask: “Is this your card, them in which parcel his card is, and madam?” She w ill respond affirmative, by the answer you immediately know ly. You w ill then say: “That is impos­ which card it is; for the first person’s sible, for the gentleman says it is his." w ill always be the first, the second and then you w ill show it to the per­ person’s the second, and the third per­ son who has drawn the first, who w ill son’s the third in that parcel where say: “It is not the same.” Then .show each says his card is. the Three of Hearts to the lady, re­ ,This amusement may be performed marking: “I knew vfiry well it was with a single person, by letting him the lady's card,” ^o which shfe w ill in- fix on three, four or more cards. In swer: “But it is not mine." To this re­ this case you must show him as many join: “Would you deceive me—I who parcels as he is to choose cards, and deceive others?” And striking w ith your every parcel must consist of that num­ finger1 upon the card, you w ill show to ber, out of which he is to fix on one, them successively the two cards they and you then proceed as before, he have drawn, saying: “Behold your card, telling you the parcel that contains and yours.” You ought, at every each of his cards. change of the card, to takef it in the fingers of the right hand. TO DISCOVER THE CARD WHICH IS DRAWN, BY THE THROW O F A D IC E TO MAKE SEVERAL PERSONS DR ^ Prepare a pack of cards in which CARDS WHICH THEY WILL there are only six sorts of cards. Dis­ THEMSELVES REPLACE IN pose these cards in such a manner that THE PACK, AND TO each of the six different cards shall FIND THEM AGAIN follow each other, and let the last of You must hive a pack of cards pre­ each suite be a long1 card. The cards pared as is suggested. That, is the being thus disposed, it follows that if one end must be a very little nar­ you divide them into six parcels, by rower than the opposite one. You cutting at each of the long cards, these w ill make one of the company draw a parcels w ill all consist of sim ilar cards. card from the pack, and w ill observe Let a person draw a card from the particularly if he turns it in his hand. pack and let him place it in the parcel If .he replaces it as he drew it, you from whence it was drawn, by dexter­ w ill turn the pack, so that it may be ously offering that part. 'Cut the cards in a contrary position to the others. If several times, so that a long card t o he turns it in his hand, it w ill save you always at bottom. Divide the cards in the trouble. The card being replaced, this manner into six heaps, and giving you give the pack to someone to shuf­ a dice to the person who drew the card fle, and then have a second or even a tell him that the point he throws shall third drawn, observing the same pre­ indicate the parcel in which is the card cautions. After this, taking the pack he drew; Then take up that parcel and by the widest end, in the left hand, show him the card. you w ill draw successively with the right hand cards that were chosen. THE CARD CHANGING IN THE NOTE—Invariably this trick should HANDS not be performed before those who are Erase one of the end spots of the accustomed to witness sleight-of-hand Th^ee of Hearts, and keep this card in and it should never be repeated to the youi pocket in such a manner that you same company, who may readily find can recognize the top. Have a pack of out that the whole art consists in c;»"ds at the bottom of which have the turning the pack. These little bits of 'Ace and the Three of Hearts, make the knowledge will readily come to the pass to bring them to the middle of conjurer after a short time. the pack, and force them to be drawn by a lady and gentleman, to whom you w ill then give the pack to replace the THE BURIED HEART cards and shuffle them. During this A curious deception may be practiced time adroitly take the card from your by cutting out neatly and thinly sli? ' pocket, conceal it beneath your hand, ing the back of a Club, which is thei* and again taking the pack place it at to be pasted slightly over an Ace of the top. Make the pass, and draw this Hearts. After showing a person the card from the middle of the pack, pre­ card, let him hold one end of it, and sent it to him who has drawn the you hold the other; and while you Three of Hearts, covering with the amuse him with discourse, slide off right forefinger the spot where you the Club, then laying the card on the erased so that he w ill imagine that he table, bid him cover it with his hands; sees the Three of Hearts, and ask, “Is knock under the table, and command this your card?" He w ill reply “Yes.” the Club to turn to the Ace of Hearts. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGIIT OF HAND 41 THE ERRATIC CARD the question: “Is that the drawn card?” Take a pack of cards from your To which the answer is, of course, in pocket,' shuffle them, and let anyone the negative. You then drop suddenly draw a card; note it and replace it in the right hand, in which you hold the the pack. You then ask the person cards, and with tho fingers of the left Where he would like to have it appear, hand slip the bottom card back, and whether under the table-cloth, under draw out instead of it that card select- a flower-pot, or in the pocket of any el by the company, and throw it upon one of the company. As soon as his the table face downward, the company choice is made, you wave your magi­ of course supposing it to be the card cian's wand in the direction of the last seen upon the bottom. place where the drawn card is to be You then shuffle the cards thorough­ .found. ly, show once more the undermost card, This trick is rendered more interest­ req ue sting the com pany to see i f it is ing* if yo u em ploy an a la rm clock, the card drawn, and upon receiving a •which you set to strike at the reap- reply in the negative, you place it also, earance of the right card. This is done face downward on the table upon the y forcing a card upon the person who first card. You now shuffle the pack draws. A similar card is put before­ well, show the company the undermost hand in the places which you mention card, repeating the question as before. for him to choose as the spot where On receiving again a reply in the nega­ ;his card shall reappear. tive, you appear surprised; however, place the card just shown upon the ;

T o« [*!:»..*■ the j14 .0 k in yuur pocket, -which is inscribed the names of th* and a«k if one of the company will face cards; then command him to count call for a card. Tour accomplice calls the number of cards contained in the •«t quickly, "The Three of Clubs!'' package he has selected, and he will wi»ih you at one* produce from your find seven, agreeable to the names on »ocfcet. your list. This revelation will doubtless astonish him; but if he selects the t * t h h , r m i o e c n a w ij v r - g i .a s s smaller package, you have likewise WHAT CARDS HATH BEEfl the advantage, for you know it to con­ TlltlYKU tain two or three Sevens, and nothin* The picture cards usually haye a else. .valors! narrow stripe for the bor- *ec. This border is usually narrower THE NUMERICAL TRICK OF CARDS at one end of the card than it is at the Request a person to select at will other. Too place the picture cards in three cards from a pack of cards such such a manner that oither all the broad­ as are used for tho game of Euchre, er or all the narrower borders are which has no cards below seven points ced uppermost. You now request a in either suite, warning him that the flpootator to turn one of the cards Ace counts eleven, the face or figure w k ile you are absent from the room. cards ten, and the others according to On your return you examine all the the points on their faces. These three cards through a wine-glass, and easily chosen, tell him to place them on the #i«coyer the one which has been turned table separately, and then to put on 9M its narrow border now lies on a each card a pile of other cards, as level with the broader borders of the many in number as, with the points other cards. If they try to mystify you on the card, will sum up at fifteen by turning- none of tho cards, you will points on each heap; that is to say, easily see that this is the case. if the first card be a nine, it will re­ quire six cards to be placed over it; if TO CHANGE FIVE KINGS INTO the second be a Ten, five cards; if the FIVE QUEENS third be a Jack, likewise five cards. You take four King-s and draw a Here you have nineteen cards employed *karp knife gently across the middle of consequently there remains thirteen them, where the two busts meet. Peel for you to reclaim. Making believe to the picture carefully from one-half the examine them, count them over to as­ cards, and paste upon the blank part sure yourself of being right as to the the four half pictures of four Queens, number remaining. Mentally add six­ which have been peeled off in the same teen to this number, and you will have manner. In this way you have four twenty-nine, the number of points on cards, each representing both a King the three cards chosen, and which will and a Queen. be found beneath the three heaps. To those prepared cards you join an ordinary King and Queen. These six WHEN FIVE IS FOUR cards you spread out in a fan-like Take the four fives from an ordinary nhape, from the left to the right, and pack of cards and challenge your in such a manner that only the KingB are visible. This is easily done if you keep the ordinary K in g at the end of the fan to the right and the Qufeen concealed behind it. You show the five Kings, say that you will change them into five Queens, blow upon the cards, reverse them, placing the King behind the Queen, and display them as five Queens.

THE MAGIC SEVENS Take a number of cards, from which you will make two piles, taking care that one will contain two or three Sev­ ens, and the other will be composed of seven cards, all face cards—that is, friends to arrange them, face upward, Kings, Queens, Jacks or Aces. Then so that only four pips show on each ask for pen and ink, and write on a card. The secret is disclosed in the piece of paper the names of the seven; illustration. this paper you turn over so that he cannot see what you have written. Now THE NOVEL GAME OF TONTINE you can request a person to make his This game is played with fifty-two choice in such a manner that if he cards. After each one in the company chooses your number it will be good, has taken a number of counters, say inasmuch if he select the larger pack­ twenty, upon which a value has been age, you will show him the paper on placed, each player puts 3 counters in jl25 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND 4-J the pool. After cutting-, deal one card to Holding the two cards with their each player, with the face down. Now backs to the audience first move them to create a purse for the game. Upon apart, then bring them together grad­ turning up the card dealt, he who holds ually until the edges of the two dia­ the King draws three counters; The monds finally touch as shown. Now Queen two; the Jack one; the Ten nei­ quickly slip the false ace of spades ther draw s nor loses; The Ace pays one over to the other card so as to hide the to his neighbor; the Two gives two to ace of diamonds. the second player below him; the Three gives three to the third beyond him; TO GUESS IN WHICH HAND, HOLD­ and with respect to the others, they ING COUNTERS, CAN HE POUND pay one or two, as they happen to be TH E ODD OR EVEN N I' M It EC It odd or even; the Four, Six and Eight, two counters; and the Five, Seven, and Multiply the number in the righx. Nine, one each. It will be seen that hand by an even number, according t# twenty-four counters are drawn by the pleasure, 2 for example, and the num­ players; that twenty-four circulate, ber in the left hand by an odd riamber, and that thirty-six are put up for the 3 for instance; then add together the prize of the game. Thus, on each deal, sum of both; if the total is odd the twelve counters pass from the hands even number of pieces will be in the of the players. When one runs out of right hand, and the odd in the left; counters, he returns his cards, and is if the sum be even the contrary will be considered dead; nevertheless, he re­ the case. vives rapidly, inasmuch as his neigh­ Proof.—Suppose In the right hand 8 bor* should an Ace come to him, is pieces, and 7 in the left; multiply V by compelled to give him one; the player 2 and you have 16, while the produet two places above him, if a Two is of 7 by 3 will be 21; the sum total is dealt to him, gives him two; the Three, 37, an odd number. If, on the other chancing to the third above him, sup­ hand, 9 was in the right hand and 8 plies him with three, and this rule in the left* multiply 9 by 2, you have works a revolution in his favor. Fin­ 3 8, and multiply 8 by 3, you have 24, ally the pool remains to the player which added to 18 gives 42, an even holding the last of the counters; but number. during continuance of the game many wonderful accidents occur, and it fre­ TO PRODUCE NUMBERLESS CHANGES quently chances that he who has been W ITH A GIVEN NUMBER dead two or three times, or who has OF CARDS been placed in the most desperate Take the cards, each inscribed wi* straits, carries off the pool. It is these the ciphers 123456789 0. variations which render the game ex­ Take these cards in the left hand as citing and amusing. if to shuffle them. Take with the right CARDS CHANGE SPOTS hand the first two cards, 1 and 2, with­ out deranging them; place them be­ For this clever card trick the equip­ neath the two following, 3 and 4, and ment needed consists of two aces of under these four cards the three fol­ diamonds from similar packs and an lowing, 5, 6, and 7; below these put 8 ace of spades. Erase the corner spots and 9, and below all the 0. They can be and letters from the diamonds and rearranged several times according to cut out the center of the ace of spades, the same formula. At each new ar­ as shown in the accompanying illustra­ rangement there will be a fresh order, tion. In presenting this trick hold an which, nevertheless, after a certain ace of diamonds in each hand with one number of times, will come out as they leaving a rectangular section below it were before shuffled, as will be seen by the following table, wherein the or­ der repeats itself after the seventh ar­ rangement: 1st order...... 1 234587800 1st shuffle...... 8 93412 5 670 2nd “ ___6 734891250 3d “ ___2534678910 4th “ ___9134256780 5th " ___ 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 MIND OVER MIND, OR THE MAH' >f the diamonds hidden under the spade VELOUS WILL POWER jn the piece of ace of spades. Thus it appears to the spectators that you are A spectator draws three cards from holding an ace of diamonds and an ace the pack, not forced, and without look­ of spades. Now to make the cards ing at them, or the performer touching change places or spots, whichever way them, places them in his breast-pocket, you prefer to have it. from which he has previously removed 44 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND the contents. The performer now calls "Ladies and gentlemen, u^r.i are out the name of a card, and requests four suits in the pack: hearty, spades, the spectator to hand him one of the diamonds, and clubs. X shall ask some cards from his pocket. Upon this be­ gentleman to name either tw._» of them. ing- done, the card is found to corres­ T h a n k you, sir. The gunthMu.in .says pond wfth the one previously named hearts and spades, therefore it must by the performer. This is repeated with be a heart or a spade. Kow v;n the two other cards. one kindly name one of li.*.*«.*, m -jkUj! This is a vast improvement on the Thank you, sir; that loaves a heart old method of performing a very sim­ therefore it must be a heart.'1 ilar trick, and is highly commended. To explain the above. The perforator The performer asks a spectator to knows in the first place that tho c:;.d select three cards (making sure that | is a heart, and he interprets the'un- the three cards are selected in a . swers from the audience to suit h.s bunch). He then cuts the cards as , own purpose, in the following manner; usual, bringing the card just above the Had the audience said diamonds and three chosen to the bottom. clubs in place of spades and hearts, The three cards chosen must now the performer would have said: “Very be placed in the pocket with the faces well, sir; that leaves hearts and toward the person, which is the natur­ spades." Now, with regard to th« heart al way of doing it. Tho performer now and the spade, had the audience said notes the bottom card of the pack, hearts instead of spades, tbs reply which enables him to know the names would have been: “Very w *ll; it must of the chosen cards. Suppose the bot­ be a, heart.'* tom card was the five of hearts, the Ex*ample: There are two cards left— first of the three cards would be the hearts and spades. The performer eight of diamonds. Therefore, the per­ wants the audience to name hearts. former asks the gentleman to place Suppose the audien©« names spades, his hand, as quickly as possible into the reply is: “Very well; that leaves his pocket and hand him the eight of a h e a rt." diamonds, which nine times out of Should they have named a heart, the ten w ill be correct, for this reason: reply is: “Thank you; we will make In the act of the spectator placing it a heart,” and thus the performer his left h£,nd in his right inside breast­ practically forces the card on the pocket, owing to it being done quickly, audience. he will seldom, if ever, place more Now, to continue the trick and cause than his four fingers in the pocket, the the exact name of the card to be called, thumb remaining on the outside. For which is carried out on the same prin­ this reason the only card possible for ciple, the performer continues: “The him to take from the pocket in this suit is a heart, there are thirteen cards condition is the top one, whi~h is th* in a suit, and it must be one of the eight of diamonds. If the reader w ill thirteen. We w ill divide the thirteen try this experiment with himself, he into odd and even numbers. W ill some w ill readily catch the idea. one kindly say either odd or even? After the first card is produced, the Odd! Thank you; that leaves even. The performer calls for the next, which is even numbers are two, four, six, eight, the jack of clubs, and as there Is but ten, queen. We w ill divide them into one remaining card there can be no two parts, above or below seven. W ill mistake, as the performer asks for the some one kindly name above or below ace of spades. seven? Above seven! Thank you sir. It, Many find this trick always has a therefore, must be either the eight, ten great effect on the audience, and causes or queen. W ill some gentleman kindly a considerable amount of excitement name two of these three? Eight and and interest. queen! Th&nk you. Now, w ill some one select either the eight or the queen? TO CAUSE A CARD SELECTED BY Queen! Thank you. That leaves the A SPECTATOR TO BE XAMED eight of hearts. W ill the g-entleman *1 B1' T H E A U D IE N C E kindly turn up this card?” A card is selected by a spectator and A suggestion as to the tone of voice laid on the table without its face being in naming these cards will be of seen. The performer now states that it great advantage. For instance, suppose is impossible for anyone to know the the queen and eight are left, the per­ ame of the card, But that he will former wishing the audience to name or,use the audience themselves to name the eight, says: “W ill someone name it. the eight or the queen?” with a strong The modus operand! employed for accent on the eight, and nine times out this experiment is not absolutely new. of ten, if the words are properly spok­ Supposing the card selected was the en, tl^e desired card w ill be selected. ei£ht of hearts, the performer secret­ ly ascertains its name in the same ,TnE COURT CARDS manner as explained previously, and For this trick the conjurer takes a forthwith addresses the audience as pack of cards, and separates the court fo llo w s ; cards from the remainder 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS Oil SLEIGHT OP 2X.1X: Using only tho court cards, he asks running from tho toy i>r Wi,o 10 a member of his audience to take one, the bottom so that when a flaying- to look at it, and replace it among: the card is pushed down into tho glass its others. The court cards can then be edges will strike the soared strips. shuffled by anyone, but immediately The card should he of the :«>©©th~ they are returned to him the conjurer finished kind. picks out the chosen card. With this equipment all set tho per­ The secret of this trick Is very sim­ former bogins the trick b f pcshiug ple. If you look at the illustration of the card down Into the glass a»4 tell­ Six cards, you will see that on each ing a spectator to ask the car4 to rlap one of them the white margin (x) is out of the glass. But the car* Aooe not larger than on the othor. rise at the spectator's ooxnmanA. So The conjurer begins by arranging? the performer removes tho oar4 Crow the cards with the larger margin oa the glass, strokes it oa hLs sloevo, and the left, as In the picture. He theu thon pusiies it down into th© ylass. hands the cards to someone, auks him This time the performer gives a sharp to take a card out and to replaco it. command to the card to arise, an * tho card immediately rises. Tho secret, of course, is that when the performer first pushes the car# into tho glass he does not place it s© the edges of the card come in eonta:t with the soap. But when he pushes the card into the glass the second time he does have the edges right down the soapy tracks. The stiffness of the card, the shape of the giass and the smooth paths help it rise at the per­ form er’s command. It is necessary, however, to apply the soap evenly so its presence will not be noticed. THE POUR BUR GLAUS The performer takes a pack of carcs and removes the four ju,ks. The packs represent the four “B urglars;” he shows the four jacks fanwise to the audience. He places the cards upon the top of the pack, remarking at the same time that the four burglars climb upon the roof of a house, which is repre­ *Jhe Q ueen fs reversed. sented by the pack. Now one burglar guards the front of the house; place Before the card is replaced, the con­ a jack face upward in front of the jurer quietly turns round the cards he pack. A second burglar robs the lower is holding, so that when the chosen part of the house. Take the next card card is replaced all the wide margins and place it in the lower part of the of the cards will be on the right with pack. The third burglar robs the mid­ thft exception of that of the chosen dle of the house. Put the next card in caiifl., which will be on the left. The the middle of the pack. The fourth conjurer can, therefore, easily find the burglar robs the upper part of the chosen card and no amount of shuffl­ house. Put the next card about one- ing will make his task difficult. fourth the way down. Now after they All cards are not printed alike. Some have robbed the house, they all meet time the margins on the sides of the again on top. Take the jack which is ?ourt cards are even, but in that case in front of the deck and place it on t will be generally found that there is top. Examine the top four cards and a larger margin at one end of the card they will all prove to be there. than at the other. The trick is, there­ This trick is very easily done. While fore, just as easy for the conjurer. the performer is amusing with some patter, arrange the four jacks in the CLEVER CARD TRICK shape of a fan, when this is held up Show your friends what mysterious to the spectators' view, they see the powers you have over cards by per­ four jacks, all right, but what they do forming this simple, but effective trick not see is the fact that behind the for them. The only materials needed second jack from the left there are se­ are an ordinary card from the bridge creted three other cards, nicely squar­ deck, a glass tumbler that is wider at ed up and flush with the jack, so that the top than at the bottom so the sides whether viewed from either front or taper, and a little soap. Prepare the behind there appears to be the one glass in advance by rubbing the soap card only; namely the jack. The illus­ on the inside, but be sure to make only tration shows the position of the cards. two narrow channels at opposite points When the fan is closed and placed 40 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND top of the pack, the first card—a real is placed at the top and another at the jack— is put in front of the house. bottom of this half of the pack, which The next three cards v/hich are not is then placed under a handkerchief jacks are placed in various parts of on the table. The audience chooses six the “house,” leaving three jacks still cards from the other half of the pack, in top. and, at the conjurer’s request, holds the cards so that everyone can see them. The conjurer turns round while this is being done, so that he shall not see them. While his back is turned the conjurer exchanges the cards he is holding in his hand for the faked cards under the handkerchief. The chosen cards are then placed among those which are faked, and in order to do the trick the conjurer has only to slip the bottom card to the top of the pack and then glance at the card whose index corner will be visible through the hole in tpe cards he holds. Having named this card, he removes it and is thus able to read the name of the second card. He repeats the operation until all the cards have been read.

THE TEN DUPLICATE CARDS—\ BRVEAL A PERSON’S THOUGHTS Select any twenty cards. Let any person shuffle them; lay them in pairs upon the table, without looking at them as represented here. You next desire several persons, (as many per­ sons as there are pairs on the table) to look at different pairs and remember what cards compose them. You then take up the cards in the order in which they have been laid, and replace them with their faces uppermost upon the table, in four rows, with five cards in each row. THOUGHT READING The order in which you place the Half a dozen cards are chosen by cards in each row indicates with cer­ members of the audience and returned tainty the couple selected by each per- to the pack. The conjurer, placing the son. pack to his forehead and asking those To enable you to do this, recourse spectators to think intently of their must be made to a mental table o f cards, immediately announces the four words, each word consisting o f names of the cards. five letters, m aking twenty in all, so that each letter represents a car<| as shown. , The first card you put on M in Mutus, and the next on M in Nomen—that is to say, on the first and eighth places of the intended square of twenty places. Having disposed of the first pair, you proceed to put the next card on U in the second place of the first line, and on its companion in the fourth place of the same line. The next card is placed on the spot occupied by T in the first line, and on T (or fifteenth place) in the third line, the first cm-d of the fifth couple is placed on S in the first line, and on S in the fourth line. Having completed the first line, you proceed with the word Nomen in the second line, then with Dedit and finally with Cocis, filling up the the remaining vacancies by placing Half the pack is "faked,” a small each couple of cards on corresponding niece being cut out of the index cor­ pairs of letters, until the square is ner of all the cards. One ordinary card complete, as shown. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND • f You now ask each person where the spring, the false bottom is raised with cards he selected In his mind are now the card, and firm ly united to that part •ituated. If he says they are both in where the hinges are. On the real bot­ the first line, then he thought of the tom lies another card, which had been cards •ocupying the places of the two previously and secretly deposited U’s. there. In making a person draw a card, If he says that one card is in the a duplicate of this is forced upon him; first, and the other in the second line, for if he attempts to draw another, un­ then he thought of the cards oocupy- der some pretence you shuffle the ing the places of the two M’s. cafds again, till at last he takes the If in the first and third line*, of very card you Intend for him. This tho two T's. card you know by feeling It, it being If in the first and fourth lines, of purposely longer than any of the *he tw e S’s. rest, and Is in fact a conjuror’s secret card. You must never let one of those A n d bo on, with each pair of letters particular or brief cards remain in a •orrespondingr w ith the couple of cards pack when you give it to be examined. selected. A little practice Is required to strengthen the memory, so as to pair A NEW MIND-READING FEAT WITH the. letters as they present themselves CARDS ( in the words which represent the places of twenty cards. You w ill notice One or more cards should be select­ that, although there are twenty places, ed by a spectator, and the pack laid there are only ten different letters or on the table. ten pairs. A lady or gentleman sitting on the This amusement, which is very sim­ opposite side of the room (without ple and requires very little practice, even as much as a look from the per­ w ill excite considerable astonishment former) immediately informs the draw­ in those unacquainted with the key. er the number and the names of the cards chosen. This trick, which can, if desired, be T H E K E Y presented as an exhibition of genuine M u T u S mind-reading, w ill create a profound J o M EN sensation. The medium, or second party, to this D E DI T experiment must be thoroughly ac­ V*, o C IS quainted with the order in which the pack is arranged, and should be seat­ In th e following table, the plac ed on one side of the performer. Of the letters are numbered In rotatic After the card or cards have been selected, the pack is cut, and the card 1 2 3 4 5 that was above those selected brought UU T U S to the bottom. In the act of laying the 6 7 8 9 10 cards on the table, the bottom card is momentarily exposed to the view of E N ! N O M the assistant, thus enabling him to ' 11 12 13 14 15 name the selected card, this, of course, X) E DX T being easily accomplished when one thoroughly understands the arrange­ 16 17 18 19 20 ment of the pack. CO C IS With a judicious addition of one of the false shuffles described, two clever TO CHANGE A CARD LOCKED UP people can perform tricks on the above IN A BO X principle that not so many years ago would have caused them to meet the You ask a person to give you any fate of a sorcerer. card he pleases out of,the deck, and you let him put it into a box which is locked up before the company. You AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE then take a few cards, and desire an­ DIVINATION other to draw one and remember it, * which he does, and the cards are laid A very clever non-sleight-of-hand aside. You now unlock the box and trick. It has seldom been published, the card which the second person drew and is, in fact, almost unknown: It is is on the box instead of the one which so simple that a child can learn it in is locked up. five minutes, yet it can be exhibited A box must be made on purpose w ith for hours without the slightest fear of a double bottom, on the false one is detection. It is one of the very fcv" laid the card which the first ■ person tricks that can be repeated. chose. In locking the box, by a secret In effect it is as follows: 4t> 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND Eleven cards are placed face down­ A certain number of cards are again ward on the table in a heap. The per- moved, and as in all cases when the former is now securely blindfolded, jack is at the bottom of the packet, all and, if desired, can be led into another the performer has to do is to turn the room. In his absence a spectator cuts cards over, and on the bottom card will the cards, and after counting the lower be found the correct number of spots. portion replaces them on what was Should the ace be at the bottom of originally the upper portion. the pack, then the top card will always The performer now enters the room, denote the answer. still blindfolded, waves his hands over If the two-spot be at the bottom, the the cards, and immediately picks one second card from the top will denote of them out of the packet, which upon the answer, and so on all through. examination proves to have the num­ ber of pips or spots that corresponds If no cards were moved, it is appar- with the number of cards counted. *kat the performer would turn up the jack, this being fourth from the For instance, suppose four cards top so that if no cards are shifted the were removed, the performer would jack always turns up. unhesitatingly turn up, say, the foun £.fter five minutes’ study, this trick of clubs. Supposing that no cards were will be found quite easy of accomplish­ removed, and the packet was left in ment. its original state, the jack would be turned up by the performer. Not only CARD AND 3IATCH TRICK can the performer be blindfolded, but a thick cloth or handkerchief can b© A card is freely chosen from a deck. covered over the packet, and yet the The wizard, unfamiliar with the suit card with the proper number of pips of the selected card, reaches into his is produced. This trick can be repeated pocket and draws forth a package of as often as desired without any rear­ matches of the flat paper variety. Re­ rangement of the pack, and it is this moving one of the matches from the part of the experiment that mystifies package, he strikes it and allows the conjurers unacquainted with the modus match to burn about half way, when operandi. the flame is extinguished. For the performance of this excel­ lent drawing-room trick, the performer CHOOSE CAtt»f ROM PtftPAREOOCC* must previously arrange eleven cards Ki: follows: Place a jack face downward, and on the top an ace, then a deuce, then a .rey, and so on to the ten, and the cards must be kept in this order throughout the trick. They can, how­ ever, be cut as often as desired before . ou start the experiment; but as the pick et is placed on the table the per­ former must m anage to catch a glimpse of the bottom card, as this forms the key to the whole mystery. Supposing the bottom card is the four spot. The cards will be arranged one on top of the other. Now, no matter how many cards the spectator moves, all the performer has to do is to show the fourth card down from the top, and this will have the number of spots that corresponds with the number of cards removed. We will suppose a spectator moved seven cards. The performer now shows the fourth card from the top, which is a seven- spot. Now, without rearranging the cards, or even looking at the bottom, one, the trick can be repeated. The performer remembers that the card just shown— On drawing attention to the head of a seven spot— was fourth from the top, the burned match, the diget 7, and a and he, thereiore, knows that the third small diamond, are seen mysteriously card from the top must be the eight- printed upon its surface. The selected spot, the second the nine-spot, and the card is, upon examination, found to be top card the ten-spot, leaving the jack the seven of diamonds, much to the at the bottom amazement of the spectators. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OP HAND The trick is as simple as it is effec­ cards, and on the other side the re- tive. Before presenting the trick, the maing twenty-six. The cards should be wizard secretly prepares one of the arranged in a haphazard manner. When matches, by writing the digit seven, the spectator has mentally noted a cer­ and drawing a small diamond, upon tain card, the performer, under cover the head of one of the matches, with of his hand, turns the pack round, s© a lead pencil. It is amazing to see how that the other twenty-six cards are clearly this writing shows up, after visible to the audience. Upon their be­ the match has been burned. The card, ing passed slowly from hand to hand, of course, is forced upon a spectator. it is found, of course, that the chosen Should an amateur, not skilled in card has vanished. sleight of hand, attempt this trick, we This can naturally be repeated. If suggest that he use what is commonly desired, two or three spectators cp known as a “forcing” deck. This con­ note cards at the same time. sists of fifty-two cards, the faces all alike. THE HANGING CARDS The conjurer takes a pack of cards, NEW CARD AND EGG MYSTERY shuffles them, then holds them out Many of the readers are doubtless fanwise to show that they are quite acquainted with the trick wherein a “unprepared.’’ He also invites inspec­ chosen card, after being mutilated, is tion of his hands, to make sure that discovered whole in the center of a they have not been secretly prepared. previously examined egg. Then the conjurer takes one of the A hard boiled egg is passed for ex­ cards and places it on his right hand; amination to prove that the shell has he holds his hand stretched out away never been broken or tampered with from him, with the palm upward. in any way, and the same egg is plac­ Having placed the card in position, ed in full view of the audience. the conjurer makes a pass with his A card is now selected by a member left hand toward the card and announ­ of the audience, noted, and replaced ces that he is going to try to m esmer­ in the pack, which is then shuffled. ize it. The egg, which has never been out of sight of the audience, is now handed to a spectator with a request to crack and remove the shell. Upon this being done, the name of the selected card is found to be written on the white of the egg. This trick will cause a profound sen­ sation wherever presented, as the egg will bear the strictest examination. The secret is as follows: Dissolve an ounce of alum in a quar­ ter of a pint of vinegar. Now dip a camel’s-hair brush in the solution, and inscribe on the outside of the shell of an egg the name of the card you in­ tend to force. Now let it dry, where­ CrrCCT Jecrer C*rd, upon all traces of the writing will van­ ish. The egg must now be boiled for ten minutes, and it is then ready for use. When the shell is removed, what­ ever you have written on same will be found on the white of the egg. Nothing seems to happen, so the ISAPPEARANCE OF A CARD conjurer places a second card under THOUGHT OF BY A the first, then proceeds to add a num­ SPECTATOR ber of other cards, spreading them rhe petformer passes a number ot out so that he has a kind of rosette of cards from hand to hand, with faces cards in his right hand. toward the audience. A spectator is Then he once more pretends to mes­ now asked to remove any card he sees. merize the cards, and places his left Upon this being done, the per­ hand on them for a moment. former again passes the cards from Without any warning of what he hand to hand, at one time, when it is intends to do, the conjurer then turns discovered that the card thought of his hand over, still keeping the left has disappeared. hand against the cards and so prevent, A second card is similarly treated. ing them from falling to the ground. To produce the above effect, the per­ Suddenly he takes away his left hand former must obtain a pack of cards and repeats the mesmeric passes with consisting only of twenty-six, but with it in the direction of the right hand, no backs, each side being a face. On and the audience are considerably sur­ one side are pictures oftwenty-six prised to see that the cards do not obey It 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF BAND tho la w of gravity and fall to the ard lines for this particular trick. The ground. They remain clinging to the force employed is unusual and though hand. it appears to be even more fair than The conjurer asks someone to name usual it is actually a moro decided one a small number—under twenty. He and absolutely cortain to work. Wo al­ counts slowly up to this number, and lude here to the forcing of the corner e xa ctly at the moment he speaks it, the or other part torn out, not to the force cards fall to the floor. The cards and of the card 'itself. If you come to think the conjurer’s hand can be examined by any person who is curious to find o u t “ how it is done.” To come at once to the explanation, one of the cards Is prepared, but if the preparation is done neatly, the card will pass as an ordinary card. A small piece of another card is pasted to the center of the card that is to form the “foundation” of the pile of cards placed on the right hand. Of course this little piece is pasted to the back of the card; it should form a little flap which can be held down closs to the card, and thus it will not be noticed. To raise the flap, the conjurer merely has to bend the card slightly, and in replacing it on his right hand he gets this flap between the two knuckles of his third and second fingers. It will be seen that the card is held close to the hand, and therefore if the conjurer arranges other cards under this “flap card” all the cards will be held close to the hand. The counting is done merely for ef­ fect, and when the cards are allowed F ig . 1 to fall the conjurer takes care that D. Ordinary card B. Untorn card the flap card is not placed too near the fram e. w ith C. Sand- ^yes of any inquisitive person. A. Actual torn paper covcr to « ard. cover corner. A TORN CARD W ITH A NEW FINISH of it the planting of this bit of card Here is an idea which we do not pre- is the crux—and also the weakness—of cend to be in any way a finished trick; the entire trick, whatever its form may it is merely a suggestion upon which be. the reader may build. The actual trick To start with, the performer forces itself is simply a version of the torn a card, preferably a court card. Let us and restored card adapted from an suppose it to be the king of clubs. This effect given in one of Roterbergs ex­ card is then torn into a number of cellent works, and which is to be pieces entirely at the free will of the found in one form or another in many audience and by one of themselves. The more. The finale is a rough try out of pieces are poured upon an ordinary a new finish by which the card is en­ plate and this is offered in turn to a tirely restored at the end by apparent­ number of people each of whom ; . re­ ly welding on the torn corner under quested to take one of the pieccs, his somewhat curious conditions. choice not being controlled at all. Each This part is simply an idea, but, as is then asked to take a card, quite a matter of fact it is actually more freely, from the pack and whatever than this because we actually worked card proves the highest among those it something after this fashion and we taken that person is invited to keep found that it “went over” very well his portion of the card in his pocket, and apparently no one tumbled to the or notebook, for subsequent reference. method employed, though a conjurer The rest of the pieces are all dropped might possibly have done so. We are back upon the plate and the lot dealt not performing for the benefit of con­ with in whatever way the performer jurers, however—at least we hope not, chooses. The card is then found restor­ for this sort of conjuring is very aften ed in a small frame which has just uninteresting to the average audience been shown entirely empty. We say and frequently only practical under restored, that is all, but the one miss­ certain set conditions which in the av­ ing part which is shown to exactly fit. erage run of real entertaining do not The performer is not satisfied with readily obtain. this unfinished state of affairs and he : .*t up start the trick itself. tells his audience that he has recently Vs does not follow quite the stand­ discovered a ray which, correctly used. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND II acts as a sort of magical blowlamp and he artfully shifts his thumb a little enables him to reduce solids to a state and allows the pioce hidden beneath of flux so that on cooling there is a it to mingle with the rest, being care­ clean join. He demonstrates his mean­ ful to keep it well marked, however, ing by borrowing a quarter, placing as this is the clue of the whole effect. it in a small receptable, which is un­ It is not a very difficult feat to force doubtedly empty, otherwise, and play­ this corner among so many for the ing the red ray upon it for a moment simple reason that you just keep it after which the owner of the quarter up until someone does take it! In »iml- is delighted to be shown that his quar­ ter is now a mere mass of molten me­ tal. This is set aside to cool and in a very few seconds the coin is again hard and as good as ever. Having thus proved his point, as to the value of the ray, the performer then takes the card, minus the part which is still torn out, and replaces it in the empty fram e in which it is seen, minus its last piece. He places this is position outside the frame upon the glass itself so that the two are separated by the glass of the frame. Nevertheless he turns on his "ray” and plays it upon the t^orn corner and the audience are then shown that the cor­ ner still shows but that it is now at­ tached to the card beneath the glass, the tear in the card being completely mended and the corner apparently melted through the glass and joined up below it. In proof of this the performer takes the cards from the frame and hands it direct to the chooser for examina­ tion, the empty frame remaining upon the table innocent as at first. Now for the explanation, which is F IG . 2. really very simple. To start with the pack used is very Curd* A and n In detail. eimply prepared by removing all the C. Cap for attachment to B, aces but one—it’s a matter of indef- ference which is left in the pack. This lar manner it is not very difficult to one is then marked, upon its edge, push out the solitary ace which th* with pencil, or ink (this is according pack contains upon the holder of this to your eyesight, pencil is best if it particular portion of the card. N ow is sufficiently distinct for the perfor­ whatever other cards may be taken it mer to distinguish it quickly in the is impossible for anyone but the choos­ pack, simply because it can be rubbed er of the planted bit to hold the high­ off again whereas ink is not so easily est card since Now we e come to t5 disposed of!) The king of clubs is set est card since he, naturally holds the for the force according to the per­ highest card in the pack. The usual former’s individual ideas in this direc­ restoration is then proceeded with and tion. Another king of clubs duplicating the card is ultimately discovered in it, is prepared by tearing out a por­ the frame. tion (not necessarily the corner) which Now we come to the welding busi­ is set carefully aside for future use; ness, and this, too, is a perfectly sim ­ the card, itself, it set in an ordinary ple matter for all its novel effect. A n sand frame with the sand covering it, ordinary Sand Frame is used about as usual. which there is only one thing to be The card forced, it is given to its attended to; it must be of the kind in chooser to tear into pieces which are which the card occupies the entire received upon an ordinary china plate, sight opening and it must be so ar­ the only extraordinary thing about ranged that when the back is opened which is that the performer holds it and allowed to fall down at full length in his right hand—or his left, for that (as shown) the sand will be run out matter—with his thumb above and his and the front clear and transparent. fingers beneath (which is not so extra­ The arrangements other than these ordinary after all—if you except the two small matters are as follows: fact that he has beneath the thumb First a third duplicate king of clubs, “that little bit of card which the others which is quite ordinary, and without have not got!”) when the pieces are blemish of any kind, is adjusted behind poured upon the plate the torn piece the one with the torn out piece so th; t 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND the two cards exectly register as one. the reverse manner to that In which In this condition they are exactly reg­ it was closed; that is to say: it is in­ istered with the opening and a spot or verted with its back to the audience two of wivx, just sufficient to hold the and the fastening undone—this allow­ card, is put upon the corners of the tin* ing the sand to clear away—and the torn card (which is, of course, on top, frame is then laid on its back, flat and back upward). The back of the upon the hand, and the frame itself frame is now closed, gently, and a lit­ raised toward the spectators so that, tle firm pressure applied so as to cause although the glass is cleared of sand, the upper card to adhere to the back th e y have no o p p o rtu n ity to see in to of the frame. If the under, torn card the frame until it is separated from the is not removed it w ill be found that if back as before. The card is inserted replaced to register as before the back and the back closed up in the ordinary is carefully closed w ill bring the two way (not as at first, by lowering the cards into complete register again (if frame) and if the card is correctly in­ the frame is at all well made, that is serted the two w ill register, as before. to fii&y!) which is the reason for all Set the corner in position by secret­ this preparation. The next thing is to ly moistening the back under pretence take a little cap, or pocket, to slip of a slight cough but any ruse will over the same corner of the whole card serve for this and, once covered by the as is torn from the other one. This is loose piece it is easy to remove the done by selecting a small piece of little paper cap within the frame by a sandpaper to match the frame back­ simple pull on the thread (it is nol ing and slightly larger than the torn necessary to pull it right clear; only piece. This is shaped so that it covers to pull it clear of the card) the two a little more than the torn surface and cards now appear, at a little distance, leaves a narrow turn over, as shown to be one, mended card but, for the in Figs. 1 and 2, by which it may be time being this state of affairs is con­ fitted upon the card. When made, the cealed by the piece still upon the sur­ rear of this “cap” must be smoothed face of the glass. and all sand and roughness removed The vanish of the torn piece through entirely and, lastly, a fine silk thread J. the glass is absurd but effective. The is attached to it long enough to pro­ “ray” is simply a small electric torch trude from the back of* the closed with a colored disc inside the lens. frame an inch or two. A knot should Upon the outside of the lens itself, be made in the free end. ' put a smear of wax and in directing What happens after this? Just this: the beam upon the torn piece at one The frame, so prepared, is arranged point bring it actually into firm con­ ■with the sandpaper cap over the rear, tact with it, switching off almost im­ whole card and torn card registered mediately and putting the torch down with its duplicate and facing the glass on the table. It-o f course carries with of the frame. The sand covers all and it the torn piece but, owing to the ar­ the frame appears to be empty. rangement within the frame—once the First the card is produced in the small cap is removed—it is impossible frame where, owing to the cap over to see if it is there or not: it appears ! the rear card, the appearance of the to have melted through the glass and ’ card is exactly as though there were joined up with the card itself. only the one card in the frame at all, This time when the frame is opened .and that with its corner—or other part both cards are allowed to descend with missing. In order to remove the card the back and it is the rear one which the back is opened and allowed to drop -is detached and removed while the one down so that it carries upon it the with the torn corner is allowed to re­ piece which is lightly stuck to it. If main within the frame which is closed the frame is sloped very slightly for­ just as at first by lowering the frame ward as this is done the result w ill be upon the back and so reversing the that while the one card descends with frame and so causing the sand to des­ the released back of the frame, the cend and cover the contents from view. front card remains facing the audience The little by-play with the quarter and being removed visibly, and a clear is simply the old “melting pot” with Yiew obtained through the glass, the quicksilver except that we simply dis­ affect of a totally empty and unprepar­ pensed w ith the usual plug lid. We had ed frame is secured. The card removed, the well with its blob of quicksilver the frame is closed not by raising the already within the outer receptacle back to the frame but vice versa; the and simply palmed it out to receive fram$ is turned back upon the back the quarter and inserted the well again and the frame thus reversed and fas­ as we left it upon the table and to re­ tened with the back to the audience— store the quarter we just reversed the during which the sand, of course, runs process! Crude, if you like, but it ser­ down, covering the card still within ved q u ite w e ll, so w h y w o rry ? and giving the appearance of an en­ There is an alternative to leaving the tirely empty frame. In returning the card in the frame. The two cards may, card to the frame for the “welding” if preferred, be removed as one and ’'ocess, the frame is opened in exactly the single hand “slide" change made, I I 11S TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND as the card Is handed out for inspec­ them to stop at different places upon tio n b u t we don’t quite see w h a t is the sword blade. These were neatly gained by it. However—you pay your stacked, first the whole, unprepared money and you take your choice! card, face down. Next the one with the A NEW SWORD TRICK smaller hole and, upon that, the one with the larger hole. These cards were T here has always been a certain fas­ then placed upon the floor of the stage cination about any sort of effect in and hidden from sight by any small nrhioh a sword plays a part, and sword object—a box, or a pot of flowers—and and cards is well applauded and re ­ the scene was set! To Perform; The ceived by almost any class of audience, performer faced the member of the t t is not perhaps a trick suited to very audience who was to throw and scatter close work, but upon the stage it is the pack, and he stood in a picturesque not at all impossible. attitude, the sword point resting upon In the old days when performers the floor, and as soon as the pack was w o rked in court costume, a sword was in the air he made a wild lunge at a necessity as well as an ornament; them and there, upon the sword, in a the costume being incomplete without neat row, were the three chosen cards. it; they made a practice, therefore, of He stood with the point of the sword not only upon the floor but stuck into — A — -— the bottom card of the pile of three, through the two holes, and as he made the forward lunge simply raised the p ------— sword with the cards stuck on it, Ilka toast on a roasting fork, and the for­ ward lunge did the rest! introducing the catching of cards upon All this is merely to introduce the the sword from a pack thrown into present version of the trick which the air, as a regular feature of the is an advance upon any mechanical show. method yet put forward. Its mechan­ The sword sold for the purpose in ism is simple and, as far as our exper­ those days was a big and clumsy affair, ience goes, certain, and it embodies no with the cards held in a sort of card- perishable elastics, etc., and, further­ case attached to the hilt, which was a more, it does look an elegant weapon massive and ungainly looking affair; and a genuine one, and does not give indeed the entire thing was almost a the impression that a band of pirates cutlass and was an absurd way of re­ has taken possession of the stage by vealing two or three cards. In any case mistake. it obviously wouldn’t go with a cos­ The sword may be used for one, two tume that was delicate. or three cards, and they may be de­ One performer had a rapier, taken tached and show nothing but a slit, from a sword stick, converted to his such as the blade would natural " needs, very light and smart looking, make, in any case. There is nothing but having no sort of trickery about it break or stick at a critical momen„ whatever. He wanted to perform the and the appearance of the cards is card catching stunt with this. The me­ more natural than in the older method thod was most beautifully simple. It for the simple reason that in the old onsisted of preparing three cards by version the cards came to the sword from outside it, whereas in the pres­ ent version they are actually upon the sword at the start. The method is based on the Coin Wand. We refer to the metal rod with a slight bulb at the tip by which the travel of a coin upon it, by means of a collar attached to the coin, is a r­ rested at the tip, the coin sliding: up­ ward to the tip when the wand is struck into the air. We have applied the same principle to a card traveling upon the blade of a rapier in the fol­ lowing manner. Above the handle of the rp.pier is a metal shield, for the protection of the hand holding it, and it is here that the major part of the mechanism—if one can call it such— is situated. This shield is actually divided in the center stamping out a hole in each which al­ and is made to open and shut in two lowed each to pass a certain distance halves, like the doors of a cabinet.* along the swords—all except the first The doors serve to enclose a very shal­ which had no hole at all. The other two low metal box, only deep enough to had holes of different sizes, allowing contain three or four cards and abo*1* 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND a half inch larger all round than a the doors and allows the three con­ playing card would be. Through this cealed cards to pour out and fall down box, which is brazed upon the shank the blade. The sudden sweep through of the handle, the blade is fixed, per­ the air causes them to rush up the manently and a little “V” shaped cut blade until the topmost jams upon the in each metal plate—or door—allows protuberance near the tip, and the for­ of these closing flat upon the box. ward thrust, at the end, assisted by In this position they are normally the now sloping position of the sword held by a spring which only just serves allows the other two to fall back to­ to keep the doors closed, but will open ward the hilt. The doors, have, of to a slight pressure but, upon release, course, closed as soon as opened, a l­ will instantly close again. Suitable most. Actually the entire motion is one slots are made in three cards, such as and not a series of motions as all. will allow of their traveling up the There is one other matter which blade when the box is open, and the needs explanation. If only one card sword inverted. At the top, or near it, is to be used then nothing further is the blade is prepared upon its flatter, necessary. If, however, two or more are broad, surface by the addition of a to be caught a little thought will show little blob of metal, upon each side, that something further is essential. I t filed into the required shape. Viewed will be remembered that the cards -re. upon the broad side of the blade it is so slight as to be scarcely noticeable. A metal bush is made which will tra­ vel up the blade, just as the coin does upon the metal rod, but if thrown up to that point—as by a smart “slash” into the air it jams upon the metal thickening at this point. This “bush” is quite small (it is shown greatly ex­ aggerated at E2) and it is used by thrusting it through the slot in the uppermost card (in this case, of course, they will be face up). All three cards are then allowed to sink to the bottom of the sword blade, the box being open to receive them, and the lids are al­ lowed to close. In the handle there is a slot in which travels a moving button to which is attached a small plate bearing an eye­ let. To the projecting ends of the “doors,” upon the underside, are at­ tached two minute eyelets and a strong wire, or a length of gut, goes from one to the other, passing also through the eyelet attached to the moving button and plate working in the handle. So long as the button is not moved the doors are held closed by the springs in this case, traveling up the blade to­ within the shallow box; but if the hand ward the point, and this, in turn, means holding the rapier uses its thumb to that the hole in the card must be made pull down the button it causes both to allow of the passage of the broad­ the doors to be held open for just so est part of the rapier, to start with. It long as the pressure is maintained; im_ is evident, then, that these cards will, mediately it is relaxed the doors close. on the pointing of the sword upward They can thus be flashed open and shut simply fall to the bottom in a heap in a moment. and will not accommodatingly range Here, then, is the action. The cards themselves at convenient intervals as being thrown into the air the perform­ in the first case where they were fall­ er makes a motion at them which is ing point downward at the start. It a curious mixture of a flourish and a will, therefore, be necessary to attach thrust at the cards. To do this he each of the lower cards to the one stands with the sword in his right above it by a length of fine thread, hand, arm across the body, and point the attachment being made close to of sword pointing to the rear, at his the blades and near to the holes them­ left side. selves. In this way the topmost card In this position the hilt of the sword supports both the other two at stated (which means the rear of the box) intervals. It is not essential that the faces the audience. His attitude is one cards should be permanently fastened of a lively expectancy, befitting the to the thread, a spot of wax would circumstances. As soon as the cards are serve, in which case they could be re­ thrown he m akes a sweeping cut to- moved and shown unprepared. The T>'ar«i them and at the same time opens small bush need not be removed at j*11 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND it may be freed and allowed to sink to when released. The spring itself is the bottom of the blade, out of the mounted upon a wire rod soldered way. In any case nothing is to be gain across the end of the container (like a ed by a too close examination of every­ long staple). It will be seen that the thing; which, in most cases, is much two halves of the “shield” have small more likely to arouse suspicion than lugs from which a pivot passes into to allay it! the interior of ths tray, via a small Another point upon which we might hole drilled in the side of the tray say a word is as to the shape of the itself. shield which constitutes the double A more detailed view of this spring “lid” to the card holder. This is not a is shown at El, and at E2 is seen a mere flat piece of metal, it is only flat small and very exaggerated sketch of where it meets the card holder edges, the small metal “bush” upon which the otherwise is it curved and shaped—■ and the more fanciful it can be made to look the better. It certainly should not be made with squared edges but should be as unlike a card, in its gen­ eral shape, as possible. It should not be difficult to give it a scroll like and '■Id world appearance without in any vay interfering with its working parts. With reference to the accompanying illustrations. At “A’’ is shown a rough sketch of the appearance of the rapier. “B” shows a sketch of the top part oC the prepared blade, looking at its

card is actually carried and caused to remain stationary. At P is shown the appearance of the sword with the card out, and appar­ ently impaled upon it, the doors be­ ing again closed. There is no reason why the card re­ ceptacle should be the actual size of the card, given the requisite area re­ quired to contain it, and this, too, could be to a certain extent disguised. The box is, however, so shallow that much more disguise should not be found necessary, it has the appearance more of a strengthening plate than anything. MARKED CARDS The use of marked cards is natur­ ally a great advantage to the average thin edge, in which case the protuber­ v? -;i? ‘C’ ‘.fc & ant thickness of the added metal is plain to the eye. “C” shows the same but viewed from the flat, or broad side, of the blade. At “D” the action of the doors in opening, governed by the sliding stud, or button is shown. “E” shows this again, but showing the interior of the tray or card holder. It also shows the arrangement of the spring which, as here drawn, is a double coil of spring with a projecting arm at the center, this latter sliding in a little staple-like fitting upon the in­ side of the lid. The normal position of this arm is flat upon the bottom of the box, or, rather parallel with it. In this position it holds the lid securely performer who exhibits card tricks. in place and upon its being raised it However, marked cards also have be­ at once tends to return to this position come a most valued ally to the black­ 56 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND leg who cheats at cards, especially at ference without having attention di­ games such as stud poker, cribbage rectly called to the unusual looks. and similar games where cards that There are so many different types o f figure to an important extent In the backs on the cards used now that there gam e are placed face down on the is little likelihood of this. In fact, we table. are sure that the cards could be used in a card game and played with the entire evening without anyone once suspecting that they are unusual from the standpoint that they almost shont out their identities to the person who knows how to read the backs. The Daisy deck cards have a system of marks which can be read at a dis­ tance of 15 feet. They are regarded by some old masters at card manipulation as especially adapted to stage use. The Nifty deck is especially suited for long distance reading. Adam's lea­ gue deck can be "told" from the froiit as well as the back. The performer can present an entire act in magic ar well with their aid. ADAM'S LEAGUE DECK Because if the vast importance of marked cards to the card trick expert and also because of the danger of running against them in a game a complete description of their appear­ ance and also the markings by which they can be recognized is valuable. One of the popular numbers is known as De Land’s, a deck which has more than 3 2,000 secret marks. Some seemingly impossible feats in magic

READ THE CARDS FROM THE BACKS

>6o6oboooo'o.DQ.p.O'p’O 0 0-0 0. DOOdOGO'OpOQ DE LAND’S DECK ?6o‘o o o.o Co The Star deck comes very close In a fro 6 © b.o® 6 6© th a t 5,9.e © £.0:0 ©jOi©]©* appearance to some of the styles 5 0 0 0 0 0 0-0I a ©iO$ are in use every day where men g et ?© oo'o'o'ocvdo^; together for a game of poker. 5 o e © &io;OiO o 6:9 We might add that all these cards t p [p 3 C 0 .0 0 O'O’C 6 O 'O , can be purchased from Johnson S m ith 0 < ; f 0 0 ;0 and Co., Detroit, Mich, together w it* JOOOI'OOO'OOO )OC 0.©j© C-OfO.OO! p 00,0 q o 'o c o ooe 3o o 69 dtd,o;o_.o $;4 §[©i® 6]i©j§lfP© ©'©’■ D 0 :0 O © £>,© C ©,0,4,. Wk o s SBsRW STAR DECK can be performed with these cards and the operator can tell at a glance just what card is held by his audience, or which has been laid on the table. The illustrations will designate the different brands of decks and particu­ lar care should be taken to note the difference in designs. The skilled card trick performer will undoubtedly want several of these decks because it will not then be necessary to use the same DAISY DECK •cards for all the tricks. complete instructions. The cost o f the It should be understood that these cards is $1.00 per deck. cards are made to look just like regu­ How these cards are sometimes used lation decks and it would take a pret­ by cheats is easily to be seen. Take, ty shrewd person to discover the dif­ fo r example, that the game o f five 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGH’!' ' W card stud was being played by a. the repertoire with little special prac­ group into which the crook has manag­ tice is presented. ed to make his way. In some manner, easily understood by the professional RING WITH MIRROR cheat, he has managed to have the This type of ring has been in favo> marked deck used. After the first card for many years both with the perform­ is dealt, which always, in five card er of card tricks who has a perfectly stud, is face down, he can read the legitimate reason for its use and again values of the card with little effort. AH by the crook who cheats at cards. he does is look at the back of the When the ring is on the finger, it is, cards and they tell their secret to him. to all appearances, just an ordinary He judges his own hand accordingly. one. It is, however, fitted with a small In fact, he usually adds a bit of card though effective glass mirror, as shown manipulation with the marked deck in the illustration. The m irro r m ea­ and with this double advantage there sures an inch in diameter and quite is little chance of anyone being able effective for seeing what is going on to keep up with him at the gambling behind the wearer and also view the table. the cards as they are being dealt. The crooked gambler wears a ring In cribbage the advantage is still like this and in dealing manages to greater in that the cheat will never hold the cards and ring so that he can help the crib of his opponent. He catch a glimpse of the cards as they waits until his opponent has discarded slide oft the deck. In this fashion he the cards into the crib and then places knows just what cards are being given two cards himself that do not “match.” to everyone on the table and also t© Then he watches the cards as he cuts himself. them and by a bit of careful manipula­ tion m anages to have a card turned up that will be of distinct advantage to his own hand.. For example, sup­ pose he had a pair of tens and a pair of fives in his hand. Naturally the turn he seeks is a ten, a five or at least another picture card. So without effort m anages to get one of these up, pre­ ferably the five. With this card turned he gets a “big” hand, with little chance of his opponent, who trusts only to luck, having a sum in his hand to equal the cheat’s. It should not be hard for the perfor­ mer of card tricks to visualize how these cards can be used to great ad­ vantage in presenting a program or just a few exhibitions as the case might be. Great fun could be arranged to have the deck used in a regular Many of the old-time professional game for a few hands and then non­ gamblers who haunted the wild-we»t chalantly exclaim that it’s no fun play­ towns during the boom days of early ing when you can read the value of settlements used these rings to cheat the cards from the back because of an the cattlemen and also the miners out extraordinary gift inherited from your of their hard-earned money. The ancestors. gamblers grew so accustomed to w ork­ Naturally such a statement will ing with the ring that many of them cause a lot of laughter and then will improved on the original design and come the demands to prove it. All that had special rings made which they would be necessary now is for some­ could wear at all times. The rings us­ one to lay a few cards on the table. ually were purchased slightly larger Naturally, by looking at their backs than the finger so that they could be you can tell what they are. The rest permitted to reverse themselves and of the group will be amazed and regard the reflector fall to the back. Rome of the correct readings as some unusual the gamblers had special rings mad© ability. Whether the joke is to be ex­ which were of highly polished gold. plained naturally rests with the per­ These then could be “sported” in the former. If he expects to have the game open and persons accustomed to notic­ of cards continue with him as a parti­ ing the ring would think nothing of it cipant the trick will have to be ex­ when the front happened to slip plained.' around, just as any ring will do if it But many of the card tricks enum­ is too large. erated in this book would be much eas­ Today a ring of this type can be pur­ ier to perform if a deck of these cards chased for only 15 cents from Johnson is used. Also the opportunity for great­ Smith and Co., Detroit, Michigan. The ly increasing the number of tricks in ingenious performer of card tricks will 58 x*5 THICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF HAND easily see where such a ring can be­ There is nothing automatic about come a valuable adjunct In performing this Past Master of the Art. During the many of the tricks suggested in this whole of his performance he is think­ l»ook and also tricks which w ill sug­ ing, and always on the alert, watching gest themselves as time goes on and for new ideas to occur to his energetic the performer becomes more and more brain. Magic, like Literature is a adept at both the simpler tricks and double Art: Mechanical Magic is the those requiring sleight of hand. Prose, while Sleight-of-hand Is the Poetry, and it is in this latter branch WORDS OF ADVICE that this great artist excels. ,, Many readers who might become dis­ Mr. Thurston's piece de resistance was couraged with Blow progress might celebrated Rising-Card Trick, with bear in mind the record of the great which he aboslutely mystified that guar­ Howard Thurston, who for many years dian of an honored name in the world reigned supreme in the field of card of deception—HERMANN THE GREAT. trickB W ith regard to this trick we think it Howard Thurston, the Premier Card w ill be of interest to the readers of Manipulator of the World, and known this book, to reproduce at this point throughout America as “The Man who the following extract from the Denvr Mystified Hermann/’ was born at Co- Sunday Post o f O ctober 23, 1898: umbus, Ohio, on the 20th of July, 1869, Originally intended by his fa­ “Hermann, the Great, Mystified by . ther—a gentleman of firm Christian T h u rs to n principles—for the ministry, he entered “Hermann, the magician, and his en­ the D. L. Moody College, in Northfield, tire company, including Mme. Her­ Mass., and completed a course of five mann, were nonplussed last night on years' training. During this period he the Tabor Grand stage by another ma­ came to the conclusion that Providence gician. The scene occurred about 7:30 had never intended him to go through o’clock, before the prestiditateur had life as a parson, and his natural love dressed for his performance, and while of Magic always predominated over Mme. Hermann was yet in street cos­ his liking for the more serious subject tume. Both had come in with the un­ he was studying. derstanding that they were to witness Upon graduating with honors from a performance before commencing their the college, very much against his fa­ own. ther’s wish he decided to adopt Magic “The chief actor In the scene was as his profession. (How many other Howard Thurston, who had been filling well-meaning enthusiasts have adopt­ a two weeks’ engagement at the Or- ed this procedure, and with what re­ pheum Theater. sult?) He did so, but found that there “Hermann, having heard of Thur­ were already too many “all-round’* ston’s act, or trick, called at the thea­ conjurers in the business. This some­ ter one evening to witness it, and was what dampened his ardor at first; but, so pleased w ith it that he requested the after cogitating for some considerable young man to call. In response, Thur­ time, he decided to adopt a single ston called on Hermann, and they dis­ branch of the Magician's Art, viz., Card cussed the act.; Hermann told Thurston T ric k s . that he would be delighted to have him Then came many weary month of as­ give the trick before his entire comr siduous practice, the greater part of pany, and, if its members were as fa­ the time being occupied in a strict ad­ vorably impressed with it as he him­ herence,to a special system of strength­ self, he would purchase it. ening and giving additional flexibility “Thurston set an everting as the time to the muscles of the hands (a system of the trial exhibition. The drop cur­ which, much as we’d like, we are not tain was lowered and Thurston told In a position to divulge), and after five all the company to line up before him years* traveling in America, presenting on the stage. In the group of auditors, a JMagical Entertainment of two hours besides Mr. and Mrs. Hermann, were In length in the smaller cities, Mr. W. E. Robinson, chief illusionist of the TJuirston first made his bow to a ipub- company, also a representative of the lic audience as a Card Manipulator at Denver Post, the numerous stage hands the Fountain Square Theater, Cincin­ and carpenters attached to the com­ n a ti, Ohio, in Ja n uary, 1895. Since then pany and the theater his career has been one of unprece­ “Thurston occupied a position in the dented, success and brilliancy. center of the stage. Four of the w it­ One - of the chief characteristics of nesses drew a card from a pack which Mr. Thurston’s act is his graceful stage had been shuffled, looked at it, noted deportment. No other living artist, in the denomination silently, and replaced our opinion (and we have witnessed it in Thurston’s hands. Then he with­ performances of the best Prestidigita­ drew to a position further in the rear, tors of the past quarter of a century) and asked one of the spectators what can compare with him in the incom­ card he had taken out of the pack. parable manner in which he presents “ ‘It was the ten of diamonds,' was his tricks. the answer. 125 THICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGIIT OF HAWD "'Ten of diamonds, come forth!’ com­ carriage Mr. Thurston stepped out of manded Thurston, who held' the pack. the crowd, and bowing to the royal Instantly the ten of diamonds arose four, proceeded to extract a card from from his left hand and ascended two the air. It was a king. Once more he feet to the right hand. Addressing the reached into space and took another next man, he said: ‘What card did you card. A king again. Four times he did d ra w ? ’ this and then bowed. The four real “ ‘The ja c k o t hearts.* kings then bowed to him and passed “Thurston ordered the jack of hearts on. to ascend, and it instantly obeyed. After a brilliant tour of the contin­ ent, Thurston returned to the United "To the next man Thurston pro­ States. He had by no means exhausted pounded a similar question with like the interest of his countrymen in his results. He then asked the next man, unique card act, but he was ambitious, Hermann himself, to name his card, and determined to branch out into the which happened to be the ten of clubs. larger field of illusions. W ith a brain “ ‘Let the ten of clubs appear!’ said teeming with ideas, he built a number Thurston, and the familiar ten-spot of very original illusions and necro­ silently arose as if propelled by an un­ mantic deceptions, likewise making im ­ seen power. Hermann smiled with provements upon old tricks, which he wonder at the performance, and was presented to the American public with completely mystified. Afterward Her­ unbounded success. mann acknowledged the trick was a W ith his laurels thick upon him, he winner, and offered to purchase it. determined to go to the Orient with “Thurston was especially gratified at his company, to penetrate into the the fact that his trick was not seon wilds of India and study the magic art through by the Hermann party. He of the Hindoo fakirs, while exhibiting had mystified the mystifier.” the necromancy of the Occident. His When this episode became know*!, adventures in India, China apd Egypt there was a great rush on the part of would, fill a valume. the public to witness the trick, and Thurston’s tour of the Orient lasted after that Mr. Thurston never pass- 1 over two years. People of all classes, ed a single week out of an engage­ from royalty downward, attended his m ent. entertainments. Among his patrons were the Emperor of Japan, the Em­ In addition to his being otherwise peror of China, together with the Em­ highly connected socially, Mr. Thurston press Dowager, the Sultan of Java, the is the nephew of former Senator King of Siam, all the royal heads of John M. Thurston, of Nebraska. India, the Shah of Persia, and the Sul­ Being a polished gentleman both on tan of Turkey. and off the stage, Mr. Thurston made, Upon returning to America in May, during his stay in the great Metropolis, iV 07, Mr. Thurston joined with Mr. a host of friends; but this does not Harry Keller and toured the United seem at all strange/ to any one per­ States as co-star with Mr. Keller for sonally acquainted with this genial and one season. Mr. Kellar introduced Mr. affable artiste. In addition to highly Thurston to his audience nightly as salaried engagements booked in Paris, h is successor. In A u g u s t o f 1908, M r. Berlin, Vienna, St. Petersburg, etc., etc. Thurston took up the mantle of his Mr. Thurston held contracts which old and famous master and continued kept him busy for the next four as America's leading magician. years. A gentleman and a born artiste Mr. Thurston’s life-work is best giv­ to his finger-tips, Howard Thurston- en in his own words: “While keeping Premier Card Manipulator of the World myself in practice in the old tricks, —w ill undoubtedly cause his name to I am steadily striving to devise some­ be a household word among conjurers thing new. By the application of scien­ for many years to come. tific principles, I seek to get out of tho Mr. Thurston happened to be at Cop­ beaten paths, and to contrive more in­ enhagen when King Edward VII, of genious apparatus and novel effects. England, the Czar of Russia and the It is my aim and ambition to give to King of Greece were visiting the King magic, now considered the doubtful of Denmark. One day as the four kings daughter of science and occultism, a were coming out of th« palace in & legitimate recognition and standing/* An Exposure of The Card Tricks M ade Uae df by Professional Card Players, Blacklegs and Gamblers

DRIOOG THE LONGS AND SHORTS The- following: course is known to Consist in having all short cards hare been extensively carried on at above the number eight a trifle longer the bridge table with great success. than those below it. This is accom­ It is telegraphing by conversation. plished with great nicety, by a machine Suppose you wish your partner to play invented for that purpose. By this in any particular suite which would means nothing under an eight can be enable you to get a run; now if you do cut; and the chances against an honor this unobserved, you will at once see being turned up reduced two to one. the advantage gained over your adver­ SAKTEll LA COUPE sary. The method is this: To ask a An adept at this trick can cheat and question upon any subect you may swindle at pleasure. Wherever it is think of, only minding the first letter practised the fair player has no earth­ is the same as the first letter In the ly chance of rising from the table Huite you wish played — namely: other than a loser. The trick, too, is “Should you like a trip to Washing­ much practised. Some time ago public ton?" S being the first letter, Spades attention was powerfully directed to would be the suite required; if he can it, by a' trial in one of the courts, a oblige he might answer “Very much;” celebrated lord figuring in it a most but if he could not, and wishes to lead unenviable manner. The excitement himself, then for his partner’s informa­ then raised Is now allayed, and Sauter tion he would not send back an answer Le Coupe is again in extensive vogue. ..f the same description, "Very much,” By its means the wealth of the unwary cne letter V not being of any service; and inexperienced player is transfer­ but “How can you ask such a ques­ red to the pocket of the cheat. tion?” w ould imply, by H that Hearts The following simple exposition of were wanted. No one would notice this the manner in which this trick is per­ sort of conversation unless previously formed will be of essential service toi acquainted. the player. It will enable him to detect the sharper and blackleg, and thus pro­ REFLECTORS tect himself from the nefarious The cards so named are, by a certain , scheme. mechanical process, equally distin­ Sauter la Coupe is the French term guishable to the initiated by their for “Slipping the Cards.’ It is practiced backs as by their faces; but from the at bridge, when the cards are cut and expense of manufacturing them, they placed in the hands of the dealer. By are 'not often had recourse to. They a dexterity easily acquired by practice, nearly resemble those ingenious land­ he changes the cut card, by slipping scapes which, at first sight, present to from its position in the pack, either our view some beautiful scene in na­ from the top or the middle, the Ace, ture, but by a more minute inspection, and thus secures its "turning up!” The give us portraits of human faces with practicer of Sauter la Coupe, to cover fereat exactness and fidelity. Some the trick he is resorting to, invariably years back this trick was played aff ruffles the cards, making with them on the continent, to the enriching of a loud noise. While the apparently sim­ a cheater and two or three of his ple action he thus performs, with the confederates. He attended the fairs at consequent noise, distracts attention, Frankfort and Leipzic with a large he slips the card, the Ace, which he has packet of these cards, which he sold hitherto concealed for the purpose, at a price which bade defiance to com­ and dexterously placed on the top of petition. Visiting the country again by the pack when passing it from one the time he thought they would be in hand to another to deal; or ascertained circulation at the various spas and its position in the pack by one of the watering places, where high play is many means resorted to for that pur­ always going on, himself and his pose. Whenever the player begins to friends, by being alone able to decipher ruffle the cards, instead of dealing the apparently Invisible hieroglyphics, quietly, suspect foul play. It is a symp­ ■nade a good thing of it. tom of cheating. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SLEIGHT OF IIAND 01 The fair player has no chance with cards-on the pack, and with your other the cheater, by means of Sauter la hand take down the cards which have Coupe. Suppose that during an evening been secured; then in lieu of very bad 20 games have been played. The cheat cards, which you might possibly have and his partner would thus have to had, you have the best that can be got. deal the cards at least ten times. Dur­ ing these ten deals the cards might be SLIPPING THE CARDS slipped six times, giving the cheat an Is performed in various ways, all of advantage over the fair player of at which tend to put the same cards on least twenty to one. the top again, which have been cut off and ought to be put underneath. When­ CONVEX AND CONCAVE CARDS ever this is done, you may depend the All from the Eight to the King are cards are previously placed in such a cut convex, and all from the Deuce to manner as will answer the purpose the Seven, concave. Thus, by cutting- of the person who performs the op­ the pack in the center a convex card e ra tio n. is cut; and by taking hold of the cards, in cutting them, at either end of WALKING THE PEGS the pack, a concave card is secured. Means either putting your own pegs Sometimes these cards are cut the forward, or those of your adversary reverse way to the foregoing one, so back, as may best suit your purpose; that if suspicion arises a pack of this and it is always executed while you description is substituted for the are laying out the cards for crib. others. But here the sharper has not so The method generally adopted for great a pull in his favor, because the this business is to take the two cards intended victim may cut in the usual which you intend to put out for tho way and so cut a low card to the crib, and fix them with your third fin­ dealer. But the possibility, or rather ger on the back of the cards and your certainty, of his feeing able, by any others on the front; then, holding them means, to cut or deal a high or low fast in your hand, you cover the pegs card at pleasure, is an advantage on the board from the sight of your Lgainst which no skill in the game adversary, while with your first finger can a va il. and thumb you take out, unpereeivod, any peg you like, and place the same HANDLING THE CARDS wherever you think proper. So called from the cards being se­ cured in the palm of the hand. The PRICKED CARDS person who practises this art at crib- This is a method of marking playin'4 bage, generally takes car^ to get two cards, which, if cleverly done, is ve\-y Fives, with any other two cards, plac­ difficult of detection, from the circum. ing one of the two ordinary cards at stance of the effect being made known the top, next to it one Five, then the through the organ of touch, and not other ordinary card, and under it the through that of sight. The cards to be other Five. These four cards, so placed thus distinguished are laid upon a he secures in the palm of his hand, stone, faces uppermost; and upon the while he desires his adversary to shuf­ left-hand side at the top, and through fle the cards, and, being very generous, the right hand side at the bottom, Iso tells his opponent to cut them; they are punctured with a very finely- »vhen th is is done, he p u ts h is hand pointed instrument, care being taken which contains the four cards upon not to drive it quite through the cards, that part of the pack which is to b? but still to press sufficiently hard as uppermost, and then leaves the cards to cause a slight elevation or pimple on the same; consequently, when • he upon the opposite sides or backs. By deals, the two Fives will fall to his this means it is in the power of the own hand of cards. By these means, sharper, when the cards are with their when a person who can hand deals, he back toward him, to distinguish their is pretty sure of two or more Fives. characters by the aid of the ball of his thumb. There are instances on re­ * GARRETING IN CRIBBAGE cord of individuals in the habit of It is so called from the practice of playing this foul game, using a chemi­ securing the cards either under your cal preparation to this particular part, had, you have got the best. and by constantly wearing a glove, The method of doing this is to sel­ keeping it in a highly sensitive state. ect out three or four extraordinary good cards, while your adversary is * THE BRIDGE marking his hand of crib. This being Is a card slightly shaved. By intro­ done, and the cards properly dealt, ducing it carelessly into the pack and you take up your own cards, which you shuffling them, it can be cut at plea­ take care to examine pretty quickly sure, The trick of the “Old Gentleman’* and after laying out any two you think consists in merely introducing into the proper for crib you immediately, with pack a card of thicker substance than one hand, put your other remaining the rest, which can likewise be cut at. 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OH SLEIGHT OP HAND pleasure by merely being properly therefore, very necessary for you to be placed by the shuffler. watchful over your adversary while he deals. This is a device of old date, SKINNING but is easier to be performed with the It is by this operation that unfair small cards used at ecarte than those cards are introduced, and too often cre­ generally played with at whist. It con­ ating suspicion by the ingenuity -with sists in secreting a certain card until ■which It is performed. Certain fair an opportunity presents itself of its cards are taken out of the original being available, when it is produced, stamped cover without injury to it, as implied, from the palm of the hand and in their stead either concave, con­ that secretes It. vex or pricked ones, or reflectors are placed. The stamp being stuck on the Till! TELEGRAPH cover by means of gum, which the ap­ Is more easily explained than sketch­ plication of warm water dissolves, or ed. Two players sit down at the card deprives of its tenacity, a kettle of table, one, let it be supposed, a rogue, hot water and a sponge are the only and the other rich. Behind the rich things requisite. The exchange being p lay e r, and in such a position as en­ completed, the regular pack finds its ables him to have a full view of his way into societies of a certain descrip­ hand, is stationed a confederate of the tion, where it is contrived to be placed rogue-player, who conveys to his (Col­ on the card-tables unobserved. Plunder le a g u e , by preconcerted telegraphic Is the inevitable result. signals, made by the Angers, what la doing, or passed, by the rich opponent. SHUFFLING OR WEAVING This is called working the telegraph, an d Is a successful as It is dishonor­ Much fraud is practised by the help able. of dexterously shuffling, by which the power to place certain cards in cer­ THE PRODUCTION OF CARDS AT tain -Darts of the pack is under the TUB FINGER-TIPS FROM control of the sharp, who become an THE ORDINARY PALM adept in the art. The preparatary step is From the ordinary palm the card' a strict observance of the tricks taken are transferred to the finger palm, at up on both sides, and their contents, shown. The little finger now very when those rich in trumps or court slightly relaxes its pressure on the cards are selected to be operated upon cards, when it will be found upon prac­ by the shuffler, when it is his turn to tice that one card will be released as deal. shown. The thumb now comes under the end THE GRADUS OR STEP of the card and pushes it up into po­ Consists in one particular card being sition depicted, the back of the hand, so placed by the shuffler, on handing of course, facing the audience. them to his adversary to be cut, as to Some are in the habit of performing project a little beyond the rest, and this trick with from twenty-five to ':htis ensure its being the turn-up card, thirty ordinary cards, but three or four either at whist or ecarte. The repre­ will be quite enough for the beginner sentation speaks for itself. to commence with.

SLIPPING THE FIVES CHEATING AT POKER Slipping the Fives at cribbage is an Because of its overwhelming popv amazing strong advantage. The mode larity as a man’s game, poker ha. of doing this is to m ark them in any been centered upon by cheats to ply manner so as to know them; and when their nefarious trade. There are hun­ ever it happens that you observe one dreds of professional cheats in the coming to your adversary, you give him the next card under in lieu there­ country constantly seeking new vic­ of, which many, who are In the habit tims for their games. of playing much, perform with extra­ The professional gambler of the past century who generally is pictured as ordinary dexterity. a soft spoken individual who prefers SADDLING THE CARDS to travel on the Mississippi sidewheel- ers has passed out of the picture. His Is frequently practiced at cribbage. game was to palm an additional card This is bending the Sixes, Sevens, or two into the game, especially If the E ights and Nines, in the middle, long participants were engaged at stud. His ways, with the sides downward; by -which it is extremely easy for you to methods of keeping an extra ace or have one of those cards for a start two scattered through his clothing by cutting where you see a card bent would seem crude today and the won­ In that manner, taking du» care to der of it is how he got away with his have the card so bent uppermost. schemes as long as he did. Five card stud in which the first card is down and D E A L IN G FIVES FROM THE BOTTOM the other four up, was his delight. His game wa* to place an extra ace in the a very common practice; it is 125 TRICKS ‘W i'« CARDS OR SI*E1GHT OF IIA!VD Mi deck, during: his deal, so it was dealt vestment in the future on the part of to him. Perhaps he shuffled so that the cheats. , another ace was on the bottom of the A day may pass and then the rehear­ deck. Always receiving: the last card sal is staged again. The cheats ap­ during- his deal, he could slip himself proach him and urge him to play again, the ace from the bottom and unless adding the hope that he'll give them a things had grone wrong and two pairs chance to get even. The victim thinks were out, he alw ays won. Then of it over, realizes that he won consid­ course, he again could have introduced erable and surmises that even if he an extra ace in the game from his doesn’t win again he can play on tho sleeve, but the danger was consider­ others’ money. So he sits down and his able by this method and it was usual­ fate is sealed. ly reserved only where there was a The game starts just as the other chance of making an unusually large one did. The victim’s luck seems to be hauL with him still for of the few good The more preferred method today is hands that come out he manages to to have several cheats travel together, hold the majority. Soon he is a little at least one of them an expert at deal­ ahead again and manages to increase ing and just how expert they can be­ his winnings here and there. come at passing out the cards is hard Finally there come a hand where to believe. Suppose a group of cheats someone ahead of him opens the pot. were traveling together on a boat, He is dealt, say a pair of tens and which is the favorite method of find­ with one or two of the others stays ing victims, the supposition being that with the opener. He draws three if a person travels by boat he has some cards, the same as the opener and to money. The cheats pick out a likely his amazement sees four tens in his looking victim and then keep an eye on hand after the draw. Eagerly bo him for some time to determine wheth­ watches the opener, trying hard to keen er they can learn more about his fi­ his excitement from showing. The op­ nances. If they find that the proposed ener makes a bet of the limit and the Victim has money and better yet, has it victim naturally raises him the limit. with him in his purse, then the stage The first bettor does the same to him is set. and this keeps on for some time when Where the proposed victim is likely the opener finally calls a halt and says, to see them they start a friendly little “I should raise you again, but you’vo game of poker. If the victim knows got me scared. So I’ll call.” and he puts anything about the game the chances in the required amount of chips. The are that he will pause and watch a victim lays down his four tens and be­ few hands. He sees nothing uirusual lieves the pot is his. The opener shakes in the play, and from the conversation his head and tops the hand with four Is given to indicate that the players kings. The victim is speechless, but did not know each other until they takes his medicine like a trooper under met on the boat. As a few more hands the guidance of the cheat’s philosophy. To by the victim believes that the The victim by this hand has lost all irand of poker being played is very his winnings and probably all the chips similar to that in which he always he bought the first time. So he invests engaged back home and he is also ad­ again and -play keeps on in a more vised, informally, .that the stakes are even style. The victim again is dealt extremely low. After a while someone the average run of poker cards, but he offers him a chair and he is urged to cannot seem to manage to hold on to take a hand for a spell. his chips like he did previously. His Hand after hand goes by and they losings are not sensational, however, are just the ordinary run of poker and undoubtedly he realizes it. As tho hands. Some are fair, others are worth­ time gets late someone suggests that less from the chance of winning the in view of the fact that the losings pot is concerned. As time goes on the are among only two the stakes be in­ victim’s luck gets better. He manages creased so that they have a chance to to draw, he believes, a pretty fair hand come back. This is said in a tone of once in a while and soon he finds that voice that indicates doubt over wheth­ his profits are growing. In fact, he er the proposal will be accepted. The seems to be having an unusually good victim doesn’t answer, perhaps, but the run of luck and doesn’t have any others, eager to give the losers a trouble at all filling straights and chance, agree. The victim is advised •flushes. Naturally, he is feeling good that he needn’t stay, etc., etc. and tnd then it is suggested that the game meanwhile the cards are dealt. Under )e broken up because one of the play- the heavier stakes he finds his luck a rs promised to quit at a certain time. little better and within a few hands Phe chips are cashed in, the victim has accumulated a few chips. trolls to his cabin under the impres- Now comes the final blow, which the - Ion that he showed the others how cheats have been leading up to for oker was played back in his home the several days. The victim is dealt >wn. He doesn't realize that the mon- a pair, say, aces, after some of the r he was allowed to win was an in­ others. He is preceded by one of the 125 TRICKS WITH CARDS OR SI/ISIfJIIT OF HAND other players with the opening price. above method should be kept in anl»4 Naturally he stays. Considerable talk and where the symptoms explained here goes on just about now to try and con­ begin to show themselves in a poker fuse him as to the drawings made by game then It is time to get out. the others and usually the attention The co-operation of the travel sys­ of the victim is distracted. He finds, tems, notably the boat lines and the after silence again reigns, that he has railroads, has made the efforts of the accumulated four aces on the second cheats during recent years more of a draw. The opener bets, he raises, and problem. Passengers are warned not to his delight, his wager sets a "boost" to play cards with strangers, but even from someone behind him. The opener these warnings do not always have the, calls the two raises, but the victim desired effect. Among too many the de­ raises once more. The player behind him also raises and the opener aaya sire to win more acts as the stepping- he has had enough and drops out. The stone to great losses, bat so cleverly victim and one other are left and bet staged that no complaint can be made. all they can, the victim undoubtedly Another favorite method of cheating digging into his purse liberally to pro­ at poker is tp have a victim between tect his hand and also lay his bets. two "bumpers,” as the accomplices aro Finally he becomes frightened and called. For Instance, if the victim haa calls, to have his good hand beaten by a fair hand and makes a bet, he is a straight flush. Now he is frankly sus­ raised first by one accomplice and the* picious, but afraid to say so and leaves by another. In this method the victim, the game, saying that you can’t beat unless his has an unusually good band, luck of that type. But his money Is be­ must pay high to s e e what the others ing scooped up by the other player and have and if the least bit of doubt ca» he realizes that he has dropped a good­ be Instilled in his mind he w ill drop ly sum. For the rest of the trip on the the cards and give up the fight. This boat he keeps strictly away from the can happen a number of times in a card games. game before the victim realires he ts For the cheats It was nothing to in a hopeless trap. Again the victim deal the cards as they wished. They must be careful of making accusations, could deal him any type of hand they because it is difficult to prove. All wanted. Their control of the cards is these elements are exploited by the amazing and hard to believe for the cheats, who also know that a victim average uninformed person. But the abhors the thought of publicity. THE END