Rubbing ear, sign for number 8.
Hand to brow, sign for number 9.
Looking to floor, sign for 0.
A great many signs can be used, and most performers have their own. The telegraphic method is very good for tests in numbers, but for the communication of words or questions is too slow, and it is also difficult for medium to get the question, if it be a long one, as she cannot write it down, and, therefore, this method is not often used in anything but number tests.
Some of the performers in magic around the country are now giving very mysterious exhibitions in thought transmission. Notably among these are the Baldwins, known as the “White Mahatmas,” and the Fays in their act called “Thaumaturgy.” Their performances are remarkable, and I will now describe the effect, and offer some solutions to the mystery. I do not say that the methods I suggest are the only ones used, for there are so many methods that it would be impossible to describe them all. I will merely tell the principal methods employed for producing these effects by purely mechanical means. Now, for a description of the tricks performed by some of the present conjurors.
The performer announces that his assistant, who is usually a woman, and whom I choose to call a medium in the following description, will read and answer questions written by the people in the audience, which they may have written at home on their own paper or at the theatre. He instructs them to write a short question and sign their name if they wish an answer, then to fold the question up and place same in their pocket or pocketbook. For the convenience of those who have not written their questions at home the performer and the ushers distribute slips of paper and pencils among the audience. They also pass out pieces of millboard to act as a rest on which to write the question. They (the performer and ushers) disclaim any preparation of these millboards and they are only passed out to obviate the inconvenience of writing on the knee. A number of these boards are torn in two and given to the audience to examine, and keep as souvenirs, if they so wish. This is done to show that there is no preparation about the boards. After the questions are written the boards are brought back by the ushers and laid upon the stage in view of all. A little vaudeville show now usually takes place, which occupies a half-hour or so, the star performance or that of thought transmission or telepathy being held until last.
Before commencing this last part the performer makes a few remarks and impresses it upon the audience that if they wish their questions answered they must concentrate their minds upon them, for if they oppose “the one with attributes not usually utilized by man” or think that the medium cannot read their questions then she cannot, and they will not be answered. He instructs the audience that if any person’s name be called, whether he or she has written a question or not, to promptly respond by raising his hand so as to put himself in direct communication with the medium. Why the raising of the hand, which is somewhat embarrassing to a person, places him into closer or more direct communication with the medium the performer fails to explain. To assist the audience to concentrate their thoughts on the questions he bids them take out their questions from their pockets or purses or wherever they may be concealed, and occasionally read them over. At this point a rustle of paper is usually heard all over the house, showing what faith the audience have in the performance.
The performer now presents the medium. She is very carefully blind-folded, and then mesmerized by the performer. A large sheet is now usually thrown over the medium, ostensibly to shut out material vision and to retain the personal magnetism, which cannot escape through the white sheet, provided it be a very white one. The performer and ushers now distribute themselves about the theatre, and the medium now starts in something after the following:—
“Sitting down stairs and to my right there comes to me the name of Smith. I believe it is Clarence R. Smith.”
Now the performer requests Mr. Smith to raise his hand, which he does, and the medium continues:—