Four Cards having been Drawn, to Shuffle them well with the rest, and after having placed them in a small Case, to cause them to Rise therefrom at the Command of the
Spectators.
T
his trick, more generally known by the name of la houlette,* dates from the latter part of the last century. It is, therefore, quite an ancient among card tricks; but though it has been performed an extraordinary number of times by one conjuror or another, it nevertheless still produces as much wonderment as ever. It is, so to speak, a little comedy, in which the spectators, the pack of cards, and the performer, all play their part. It is garnished with witty sayings and mild practical jokes; such being the invariable accompaniment of conjuring tricks of the olden time.*i.e., among French performers. Among English conjurors it is known as the "rising cards."--ED.
This particular trick was the "trump card" of Comte. I wish the reader could have seen him, electric rod in hand, as though to compel the belief that the rising of the cards was due to electricity, and delivering his jokes with a humour which was specially his own. This trick invariably won for him the heartiest applause.
The only apparatus used is a small case, either of metal or of glass, and of such a size as to contain with ease a pack of cards. In order to allow room for the upward passage of the cards, the case is open at top, and the front is also cut away in such manner as to allow the pack to be seen, a little frame with very narrow borders preventing the cards falling cut on this side. This little apparatus is fixed upon a stopper, which just fits the neck of a decanter. This arrangement gives it a fanciful resemblance to a trowel
(houlette), from which it derives its name.
Preliminary Preparations.--Single-headed cards are used, it being necessary that the
top and bottom of the card should be different.
You take five cards--the ten of hearts, the seven of diamonds, two queens of spades, and the knave of clubs.
The seven of diamonds and the knave of clubs will require a special preparation, as follows:-You split apart the lower edge of the knave of clubs, and insert therein a very thin slip of lead, so as to render the card a shade heavier. This additional weight will, later on, be utilised to make the card dance. Upon the seven of diamonds you stick, with a little virgin wax, a single diamond pip (cut out), so as to give the card the appearance of an eight.
The Electrified Cards
Arrangement of the Cards.--Take a long black silk thread, at one end of which you
make a knot. With a pair of scissors cut a little notch in the lower edge of the knave of clubs, and pass the end of the silk through it. The knot will naturally form a "stop" against the slit.
Holding the knave of clubs in the left hand carry the thread across the back of this card in an upward direction.
1.
Upon this card lay any indifferent card. 2.
Bring the thread down again over this card, and lay on it the queen of spades. 3.
Bring up the thread, and lay on it another indifferent card. 4.
Bring the thread down again over this last, and upon it place the second queen of spades, head downwards.
5.
Thread brought up again, and indifferent card. 6.
Thread brought down again, and on it the prepared eight of diamonds. 7.
Thread carried up again, and indifferent card. 8.
Thread down again, and ten of hearts. 9.
Thread brought up, indifferent card, and thread carried down again. 10.
The reader will readily comprehend the object of the interposition of the indifferent cards. These serve as bearings to cause the other cards to rise when the thread is pulled. The packet of cards arranged as above is placed somewhere on the table in such
manner as to be out of sight of the audience.
The performer "forces" from a piquet pack the four cards above named, he has them shuffled with the rest, and in placing the pack in the houlette, adds to it, from behind, the prepared packet.
The remainder of the trick is a matter of course. The other end of the thread is in the hands of an assistant, hidden either behind a screen, in another room, or (in a theatre) behind the scenes, whence he hears all that passes, and is ready to cause the cards to appear in due course.
The conjuror himself from this point only plays an actor's part. I will describe the scene in the regulation form, suppressing nothing. The reader must accept the "jokes" for what they are worth.
Addressing yourself to the person who drew the ten of hearts, you ask him what his card was.
"The ten of hearts," he replies.
"Very good," you reply, "I will order that card to rise out of the pack. Attention! 'Ten,
appear!"' But the card does not appear. You pass your magic wand, or an electric rod,
over the pack, but no effect is produced.
"Oh, I see," you exclaim, "though the card disobeys me, it may really be quite
The Electrified Cards
obedient. The fault probably rests with the vagueness of my own command. I said 'Ten, appear" but the cards did not know which ten I meant. We will make the command more precise--'Ten of hearts, appear!'"*
*I have been here compelled slightly to vary the text, the sense of the passage as written depending on a certain play upon words, which must necessarily be lost in translation.-ED.
The ten of hearts rises slowly from the pack. You take it completely out, and hand it to the spectators.
After having had the next card named, you carelessly move to the rear of the decanter, and order the seven of diamonds to appear. It is however the eight of diamonds which appears. Not being so placed as to see the card, you are supposed to be unconscious of the mistake. The moment the card rises, you take it, and holding it towards the
spectators, remark, "You see, gentlemen, I never make a mistake; here is the seven of diamonds."
A score (more or less) of the spectators, fancying they have caught you tripping, exclaim, "That is the eight of diamonds!"
Lowering the card a little so as not to show its face, you remove with the three fingers beneath it the loose "pip," taking care not to let it fall on the ground, and make believe to misunderstand their exclamation.
"You want the eight of diamonds, gentlemen?" you remark. "Then I was mistaken; I thought the gentleman said it was the seven of diamonds he drew."
The retort is "Yes, the gentleman did draw the seven of diamonds, but you made the eight appear instead."
"The eight, gentlemen?" you reply, with an assumed air of innocence, and showing the face of the card, which is now transformed into a seven-- "The eight? I really think you are mistaken!"
The audience, seeing that the card is now the seven of diamonds, and not having seen you employ any sleight-of-hand movement, are silenced, and join in a general laugh at their supposed mistake.
You have taken care that the queen of spades shall be drawn by a make spectator, who, at your request, orders his card to appear. But in vain. He may cry "Appear" as much as he pleases, but there is no result.
You pretend to be embarrassed at the supposed breakdown, and say, "Excuse me, sir! What card was it you drew?"
"The queen of spades," is the reply.
"The queen? Oh, if that is so, I don't wonder that she declines to rise. The peremptory manner (if you will excuse my saying so) in which you spoke has probably offended her majesty's dignity. I will speak to her more politely, and I have no doubt she will
The Electrified Cards
appear at once. Madam, will you do us the favour to come out of the pack?" The card rises at once, but appears feet-foremost.
"Oh dear," you remark, taking out the card, "that is a very peculiar way to make one's appearance in polite society. However, it is not altogether surprising, our rather rough summons has perhaps upset her a little."
You replace the card, still head downwards, in the pack, but towards the front, so as not to interfere with the appearance of the remaining cards.
"Come, madam, go back to the pack, and have the kindness to turn over and appear in a more becoming manner."
This the card forthwith does, it being in reality the duplicate queen of spades which appears.
"That's better," you remark; "you see, gentlemen, the lady is very obedient, considering she is only a card."
The fourth spectator having named the knave of clubs, that card appears. After having risen in due course, it sinks down again and comes up a second time. Then, by way of saluting the company, it sinks again several times. Finally, it is made to dance, keeping time to the music of the orchestra, and is ordered by way of conclusion to jump
completely out of the pack.
It will be remembered that there is inserted in the lower part of this card a thin slip of lead, the weight of which causes it to sink down again as soon as the thread ceases to draw it up. It is by means of this alternate movement that the assistant makes it appear and retire , and subsequently compels it to dance to music in the case.
I have purposely gone somewhat at length into the description of this particular
illusion, partly out of respect for a trick which has done excellent service in the magic art, and partly by way of introduction to two other very pretty tricks, which are
modifications of the same idea
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The Electrified Cards
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