A SIMPLE BUT PUZZLING CARD TRICK
Place the pack face down on the table and cover it with a serviette. Then request a member of the company to put his hand under the serviette and take a card at random; to be careful not to let you see it but show it to the company and then return it to the pack and to square the pack through the serviette after the card has been replaced. You then lift up the side of the serviette nearest to you and at once produce the card.
Explanation.—When the company are looking at the card slip your hand under the serviette and turn the pack over, and, of course, you can at once detect the “faced” card when it is replaced. On withdrawing it with your right hand turn the pack over with your left and lift off the serviette.
SIMPLE COIN TRICKS
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.
A PENETRATIVE SHILLING
Sew a halfpenny in the corner of your handkerchief and place the latter in your pocket ready for the trick. Borrow a shilling and request the lender to put a private mark on 31 it. Take out your handkerchief and pretend to place the shilling under it, instead of which pick up the corner containing the halfpenny, place it in the centre and grasp it through the handkerchief with your left hand, while you let the marked shilling drop in the palm of your right. Ask a member of the company to hold the shilling (the halfpenny in the centre) in the handkerchief a few inches above the table. Then pick up an empty glass with your right hand, hold it under the table, and request the person who holds the handkerchief to let it fall on the table. The coin in the handkerchief will be heard to strike the latter and at the same time you drop the shilling from the palm of your right hand into the glass and place the latter on the table, while with your left hand you pick up the handkerchief and shake it, being careful not to allow the halfpenny to strike the table again while you are doing so. Request the person who lent the shilling to take it out of the glass and say if it is the one bearing his private mark.
ANOTHER SIMPLE TRICK
Here is another simple trick with a sixpence. Put a small piece of wax on it, and place it, the waxed side uppermost, in the centre of a handkerchief. Then put one of the lower corners of the handkerchief over the coin and ask some one to put his finger on it and press it. Then move the second lower corner of the handkerchief over the other corner, telling your assistant to move his finger while you do so. Next cover the two lower corners with the two upper corners of the handkerchief in the same manner, and ask your assistant if he is sure the sixpence is still 32 there. Of course he will say yes; he can feel it. Then tell him to raise his finger. When he does so, take the two upper corners in your hands, and raise the handkerchief, when the coin will appear to have vanished. Of course, it is sticking to the lower corner of the handkerchief.