HOW TO DETECT A MARKED COIN
Place ten coins—say shillings—in any empty finger-bowl and request a member of the company to select one, put a private mark on it, and then holding it in his closed hand, to close his eyes and think of the appearance of the coin very hard. In about a minute pick up the the bowl, and going to him, request him to open his eyes; gaze in them, and then make a few mesmeric passes over his face. Then request him to drop the coin he holds in the bowl and to mix it up thoroughly with the other nine shillings. Now ask some one to blindfold you; when this is done place your hand in the bowl, and picking up the shillings one at a time, you can at once detect his, which you throw across the table to him for confirmation. The secret is that the coin held in the person’s hand has obtained a certain degree of warmth and can at once be detected in consequence.