TO DIVIDE THE RED CARDS FROM THE BLACK BY A SINGLE CUT OF THE PACK.
Screw a pack of cards up tightly in a vice, and shave the edges so as to make the cards narrower at one end than at the other. You then arrange these cards in such a manner that the broad ends of the black cards lie all in one direction, and the broad ends of the red cards in the contrary direction. Now let any of the company shuffle it and return it to you. You then ask in which hand they wish the red, and in which the black cards to appear. On receiving a reply, you grasp the pack firmly at both ends, with both hands, and draw them apart, when you will have in each hand those cards whose broad ends lay in its direction. Sometimes you will have to draw the card several times before you can get them entirely separated.
Observe.—This recreation should not be repeated, unless you have another pack of cards to adroitly substitute for the former, in which you may separate the pictured cards from the others, they being prepared for that purpose; which will afford a fresh surprise. You may also write on a number of blank cards certain letters or words that form a question, and on others the answer.