It is plain that if the cards held by the 1st and 2d can be told, that held by the 3d will be known. It will be found that only six numbers can remain, viz. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7; never 4, and never more than 7. Now the 6 combinations of a, e, and i, here given, represent the articles held by the 1st and 2d persons.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| ae | ea | ai | — | ei | ia | ie |
In the case supposed, 6 counters being on the table, the combination ia indicates that the first person has the card you have called I (Emily), the 2d has A (Clara), so that the 3d has E (Rosa).
In order to recollect the combinations of A, E, and I, it will be best to keep in memory some 7 words which form a sentence, and which contain these vowels in the order just given.
Our young friends can amuse themselves in forming a sentence for themselves, but as examples we supply three.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| ae | ea | ai | — | ei | ia | ie |
| James | easy | admires | now | reigning | with a | bride. |
| Anger, | fear, | pain | may | be hid | with a | smile. |
| Graceful | Emma, | charming | she | reigns | in all | circles. |
Or, if they prefer Latin, they can use the pentameter made up by the inventor of this beautiful pastime:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Salve | certa | animæ | semita | vita | quies. |
ANOTHER METHOD.
The performer must mentally distinguish the articles by the letters A, B, C, and the persons as 1st, 2d, and 3d. The persons having made their choice, give 12 counters to the 1st, 24 to the 2d, and 36 to the 3d. Then request the 1st person to add together the half of the counters of the person who has chosen A, the 3d of the person who has chosen B, and the 4th of those of the person who has chosen C, and then ask the sum, which must be either 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, or 29, as in the following table: