Magically Naming a Written Card
This experiment consists in requesting anyone of a company of spectators to name a card and write it on a piece of paper, whereupon the performer instantly names the card written.
Two persons are necessary, the performer and his assistant. The performer leaves the room while the spectator writes the name of the card on the paper, the assistant supplying the paper and pencil. When the name of the card is written, the paper is folded by the spectator and handed to the assistant with the pen or pencil. The assistant lays the pencil and paper on a table in certain positions to designate the name of the card. Previous to this test, the performer and the assistant must have the positions of the paper and pencil mentally fixed in their minds. Referring to the sketch, the four sides of the table represent the card suits, viz., spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds; and an imaginary circle divided into twelve parts indicates the number of the card, 1 standing for ace, 2 for deuce, and so on.
The Markings are Memorized so That Only Positions of Pencil and Paper will be Seen
The assistant, knowing what has been written on the paper, places the paper to indicate the suit, and the pencil is laid so that it points to the number on the imaginary circle, or dial. The one shown in the sketch is designating the four of hearts.