There are always two persons engaged in an exhibition of clairvoyance—the person who asks what the article is and the person who answers. The whole secret of second sight lies in the method of asking what the article is. A sort of dictionary has to be learned by both, and this lesson is certainly not more difficult than that of the tragedian in learning his part; but the audience are deceived by the simplicity of the questions asked. Although the words used by the questioner are nearly always the same, the position of the words is different. Hence, a different answer can be applied for every varying construction of the sentence.
When these different questions and their answers are thoroughly understood by the two accomplices, they can give an exhibition which to the uninitiated will appear marvellous and unaccountable. When the interrogator asks the question, “Is this picture colored or plain?” the answer is “Plain;” or if the question is, “Is this picture plain or colored?” the answer is “Colored.” This is the whole groundwork of second sight, and in order more fully to illustrate this matter I will give a series of answers and questions which have been adopted by a number of English and American professors. In asking the color of an article, the question can be so differently constructed that each construction can bear the answer for every ordinary color.
What color is this? Black.
What is the color? Blue.
Tell me the color? Green.
Has it a color? White.
Any color? Orange, yellow.
Name the color? Brown.
Please name the color? Red.
These have only to be learned by two persons in combination, when they will be able to tell the color of any article. Should the exhibitor have an article of a mixed color, say, mauve, he first asks the question having red for the answer; and then, before the reply can be given, again puts the query for blue. The clairvoyant thereby knowing it is a mixture of red and blue, he is able to know that mauve is the answer required. Again, in asking the nature of a stone set in a jewel the question may be thus arranged:
What is the stone? Topaz.
What stone is it? Jet.
Tell me the stone? Emerald.
Name the stone? Diamond.
Do you know the stone? Cornelian.
Any stone? Amethyst.
And so on ad infinitum. In ascertaining the nature of a piece of jewelry the questions may be put thus:
What is the metal? Gold.
What metal is it? Brass.
What metal? Silver.
Tell me the metal? Copper.
Name the metal? Iron; steel.
Please name the metal? Bronze.
Can you tell me the metal? Tin.
The following questions, having replies for the usual articles found upon persons assembled to witness a performance, may easily be learned by a person gifted with a good memory, or by a person with an ordinary memory by repeated application:
Name this? A pocket comb.
What have I here? A purse.
What is this? A toothpick.
This will puzzle you? Court plaster.
Speak loud? A letter.
Answer quickly? A handkerchief.
Has it a color? White.
Is it perfumed? Yes.
Tell me now? Keys.
Is this of any use? An almanac.
What is this for? To burn a cigar.
Do ladies use this? Yes; a pincushion, needlecase.
Do you know this? A walking-stick.
Now, can you tell this? A pocket-book.
Would you like this? Yes; a watch.
Do you admire this? A brooch.
Who gave me this? A lady—a bracelet.
What is in my hand? A pin.
Now, who gave me this? A gentleman—a chain.
What have I now? Money.
Now, what have I got? A sovereign.
Can you tell me again? A shilling.
Is this the same? Sixpence.
You say I have money; but you don’t say the kind? A florin.
You say I have money; but you don’t say its value? A half crown.
You say I have money; but tell me its value? Ten shillings.
What is the value of the money? A penny.
I cannot hear you? A halfpenny.
I think I have given sufficient queries and answers to indicate the simplicity and the secret of second sight. When all the particulars of the articles are required, although the questions may seem perplexing to the spectator, yet they are extremely simple to the person who knows each question and its reply by heart.