Cardially Yours

Tho State Library of Victoria "ALMA C O N J U R I N G C O L L E C T I O N "

CARDIALLY YOURS. Al Baker.

C O L O R F L I G H T

T h e r e h a v e hperi ever so m a n y m e t h o d s o f c a r d s p a s s i n g f r o m one e n v e l o p e or p o c k e t i n t o a n o t h e r .i?^but in this c a s e I h a v e g o n e a step f a r t h e r *

inas-m u c h a s the two p a c k e t s are of d i f f e r e n t c o l o r s , -i^w 'When t h r e e selected "blue t a c k e d c a r d s p a s s into a fr$ p a c k e t of red b a c k e d c a r d s , t h e r e i s n o d o u b t in a n y o n e ' s m i n d b u t that the c a r d s h a v e a c t u a l l y f y S3 t r a v e l e d . v ^ r A l i t t l e p r e p a r a t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y and the g a m o u n t of s k i l l n e e d e d is v e r y s m a l l . H o w e v e r , the «5\p e f f e c t b u i l d s to a p e r f e c t c l i m a x gjid is w o r t h a n y kP amount of effort expended.

^ T h r e e d e c k s a r e n e e d e d to p r e p a r e f o r the eff-£ e c t . O n e d e c k h a s red "backs and the o t h e r two h a v e

b l u e .

S h u f f l e a b l u e d e c k w e l l to m i x the c a r d s and n o t e the top t e n . F r o m the s e c o n d b l u e d e c k take the ten d u p l i c a t e s of these c a r d s . D i s c a r d s the rest of this d e c k as y o u d o not n e e d it any m o r e .

T h e s e ten d u p l i c a t e s are n o w a d d e d to the red d e c k in a n o v e l m a n n e r . T a k e any ten of' the red c a r d s and s t i c k a m i n u t e p i e c e of w a x (size of a p i n h e a d ) to the i n d e x p i p in t h e u p p e r left a n d - l o w e r right c o r n e r s . T a k e o n e o f the d u p l i c a t e

h l u e s , l a y it on the f a c e of a r e d w a x e d c a r d , e v e n t h e m up- and s q u e e z e t h e m t o g e t h e r so that the b a c k of the b l u e is B t u c k to the f a c e of the r e d .

W h e n this h a s b e e n d o n e w i t h the ten c a r d s they are p l a c e d on top of the red p a c k and the p a c k i n s e r t e d into its' c a s e .

T h u s the f a c e s of these ten d o u b l e c a r d s w i l l be d u p l i c a t e s of the top ten c a r d s of the u n p r e p a r e d "blue p a c k .

X l s o at h a n d is a s t a c k of four or f i v e e n v e l -opes a n d a l t h o u g h they l o o k i n n o c e n t there is a slight p r e p a r a t i o n h e r e a l s o . W i t h the f l a p s i d e s up, the top e n v e l o p e is u n p r e p a r e d . The s e c o n d en-v e l o p e h a s its' flap e n t i r e l y cut off and the t h i r d e n v e l o p e h a s its' f l a p o p e n e d out and then f o l d e d h a c k o v e r the s e c o n d and f l a p l e s s e n v e l o p e . W h e n the top o r first e n v e l o p e h a s "been r e m o v e d , the

The third e n v e l o p e c o n t a i n s seven b l u e b a c k e d c a r d s that y o u h a v e t a k e n f r o m the u n p r e p a r e d b l u e d e c k y o u are g o i n g to u s e . (Not f r o m the one y o u h a v e d i s c a r d e d . ) Y o u a r e n o w r e a d y to p e r f o r m the

t r i c k .

A s p e c t a t o r is asked to come u p and assist y o u . H e is h a n d e d the b l u e deck and y o u take the red p a c k . Y o u a s k h i m to do the same as y o u d o . Count f r o m the top of y o u r red d e c k ten c a r d s , one at a time u p o n the table face d o w n , and at the

same time the s p e c t a t o r does l i k e w i s e w i t h h i s b l u e c a r d s . F o r o b v i o u s r e a s o n s , the p e r f o r m e r is c a r e -ful not to a l l o w the f a c e s of h i s c a r d s b e i n g s e e n .

The p e r f o r m e r p i c k s u p h i s pile of ten red c a r d s , a l s o p i c k s u p the top u n p r e p a r e d e n v e l o p e f r o m the stack, p l a c e s the red p a c k e t o p e n l y w i t h i n and w r i t e s on the flap the l e t t e r s 'RED.' H e p u t s the e n v e l o p e on an inverted t u m b l e r or in any spot w h e r e it is i s o l a t e d and in f u l l v i e w .

The s p e c t a t o r is then r e q u e s t e d to t a k e h i s ten "blue c a r d s , p a s s into the a u d i e n c e and h a v e three p a r t i e s each r e m o v e a c a r d . W h e n this h a s "been d o n e , the three s p e c t a t o r s are a s k e d to r e m e m b e r t h e i r c a r d s a n d r e t u r n them to the p a c k e t .

~~ ~ T h e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s the p a c k e t of ten 'blue 'cards f r o m s p e c t a t o r and p i c k i n g u p the p a c k e t of e n v e l o p e s p l a c e s the b l u e c a r d s into the top e n v e l o p e w h i c h is r e a l l y f l a p l e s s . The f l a p of the e n v e l o p e just be-n e a t h a p p e a r s to "be the f l a p of the top o be-n e , abe-nd a f t e r t h e b l u e c a r d s a r e i n s e r t e d in the top and f l a p -l e s s e n v e -l o p e , the f -l a p is c-losed down a n d the w o r d

'BLUE' w r i t t e n on s a m e . It is n o w o p e n e d , touched to the lips to w e t f l a p a n d the second e n v e l o p e c o n -t a i n i n g seven b l u e c a r d s is d r a w n e n -t i r e l y a w a y f r o m the p a c k e t w h i l e the f l a p l e s s e n v e l o p e c o n t a i n i n g the o r i g i n a l ten a n d n o w on the f a c e of the s t a c k , is l a i d f a c e down on the table and c o v e r e d b y the o t h e r e n v e l o p e s .

The e n v e l o p e m a r k e d 'BLUE' is n o w p l a c e d on a n o t h e r i n v e r t e d t u m b l e r or p l a c e d s o m e w h e r e in full v i e w .

The p e r f o r m e r n o w states that h e w i l l a t t e m p t p a s s i n g the three selected c a r d s f r o m t h e i r e n v e l o p e

into the o t h e r .

He a s k s the first g e n t l e m a n t h e n a m e of h i s c a r d and c o m m a n d s it to p a s s . T h i s is r e p e a t e d w i t h the second and t h i r d .

The p e r f o r m e r n o w o p e n s h i s red e n v e l o p e , r e -m o v e s the c a r d s and f a n s t h e -m w i t h f a c e s t o w a r d s the a u d i e n c e u n t i l the f i r s t of the three n a m e d c a r d s a p p e a r s . The p a c k e t is then cut m a k i n g this card the face card of the ten and f a c i n g a u d i e n c e .

The packet is "being h e l d s q u a r e d in the left h a n d , w i t h t h u m b on the face and f i n g e r s at the b a c k . The left t h u m b n o w e x e r t s a l i t t l e p r e s s u r e and

p u s h e s the f a c e card f o r w a r d w h i c h s e p a r a t e s it f r o m the w a x e d card b e h i n d , or in o t h e r w o r d s , f r o m the red h a c k e d card to w h i c h it is s t u c k .

W i t h o u t showing the b a c k of this p u s h e d off card it is stood in full view a g a i n s t s o m e t h i n g w i t h its' f a c e a l w a y s toward a u d i e n c e .

The packet is a g a i n f a n n e d as b e f o r e u n t i l the second n a m e d card a p p e a r s and t h i s is a l s o cut to the f a c e of the p i l e . T h i s is p u s h e d off a s w a s the first and p l a c e d b e s i d e i t . T h e n the third is f o u n d and r e m o v e d in the s a m e m a n n e r .

T h e p e r f o r m e r n o w c o u n t s the r e m a i n d e r of the - r e d p a c k e t and f i n d s ten c a r d s , p r o v i n g that the t h r e e

h a d a c t u a l l y in some m y s t e r i o u s m a n n e r j o i n e d the o t h e r s .

T h e p e r f o r m e r then r e q u e s t s the s p e c t a t o r to o p e n h i 8 e n v e l o p e and count the c a r d s t h e r e i n . The s p e c t a t o r does so and finds only s e v e n . The p e r f o r -m e r then states that a s the s p e c t a t o r h a s only seven w h i l e h e h a s t h i r t e e n , the three c a r d s did a c t u a l l y

t r a v e l . The p e r f o r m e r n o w a p p a r e n t l y h e a r s a r e m a r k f r o m the a u d i e n c e , 'How about the b a c k s ? '

The p e r f o r m e r says, 'Surely, if they came f r o m over t h e r e , they must b e b l u e . ' P i c k i n g u p the three c a r d s h e turns them s h o w i n g each to h e a b l u e c a r d w h i c h h e s m i l i n g l y h a n d s to the s p e c t a t o r w i t h the r e q u e s t that h e r e t u r n them to the p a c k f r o m w h e n c e they c a m e .

F o r stage u s e and w h e r e the p e r f o r m e r can u s e a table w i t h a b l a c k art w e l l , it isn't n e c e s s a r y to use any e n v e l o p e s at a l l . T h e p a c k e t s a r e m e r e l y h e l d t o g e t h e r w i t h a r u b b e r b a n d a n d p l a c e d on the g l a s s e s a s b e f o r e . In f r o n t of the w e l l is the b a n d e d p a c k e t of s e v e n b l u e c a r d s . T h e s e are c o v e r e d w i t h a silk h a n d k e r c h i e f . W h e n the s p e c t a t o r r e t u r n s w i t h the ten b l u e c a r d s f r o m a u d i e n c e , t h e p e r f o r m e r t a k e s them, s n a p s a b a n d around t h e m a n d a p p a r e n t l y l a y s t h e m on the t a b l e b e h i n d h a n d k e r c h i e f a s left h a n d p i c k s u p h a n d k e r c h i e f and w i p e s g l a s s . H o w e v e r , the p a c k e t of ten w a s d r o p p e d into the w e l l , a n d the r e m o v a l of silk b r i n g s to v i e w the p a c k e t of seven w h i c h are then p l a c e d on the i n v e r t e d t u m b l e r .

E v e r y p e r f o r m e r h a s h i s own pet m e t h o d s for an e x c h a n g e of c a r d s o r o t h e r o b j e c t s . T h e r e is no n e e d for a n y o n e to ' u n l e a r n ' h i s m e t h o d as e v e r y t h i n g d e p e n d s u p o n this o n e e x c h a n g e , so w e s h a l l l e a v e t h i s to y o u r i n d i v i d u a l c h o i c e .

O U T ON L O C A T I O N .

T h i s is a fine card l o c a t i o n to u s e w h e n a m o n g m a g i c i a n s and card e x p e r t s .

At a n y o p p o r t u n e m o m e n t w h e n s o m e t h i n g elBe is b e i n g d o n e , p i c k u p the d e c k and n o t e the b o t t o m c a r d . T h e n f a n them w i t h f a c e s u p and n o t e the f i f t h card f r o m b o t t o m . K e e p on f a n n i n g and n o t e the n e x t f i f t h c a r d , and f i n a l l y the n e x t f i f t h .

T h i s m a y sound d i f f i c u l t at the f i r s t r e a d i n g b u t the b o t t o m card of d e c k is the o n l y one y o u a c t -u a l l y r e m e m b e r . Say the b o t t o m card is the F i v e of D i a m o n d s . Y o u r e m e m b e r this in f u l l . T h e n s u p p o s e the f i f t h card f r o m b o t t o m to b e a S e v e n of C l u b s . D i s c a r d the C l u b s and j u s t say 5 7 . T h e n e x t fifth, c a r d m i g h t be the S i x of H e a r t s . T h i n k 60 and run on to the n e x t f i f t h card w h i c h could b e the T h r e e of S p a d e s . Then say 6 3 . T h u s y o u m e r e l y r e m e m b e r 5763 . A s long a s y o u r e m e m b e r the F i v e o f D i a m o n d s y o u are a l l r i g h t . N o w that y o u h a v e n o t e d these c a r d s , cut about s e v e n f r o m the b o t t o m to the top and y o u a r e r e a d y .

A s k s o m e o n e to d i v i d e the p a c k a b o u t h a l f w a y and c o m p l e t e the c u t . T h e n e x p l a i n that n o one i n c l u d i n g y o u r s e l f can k n o w w h a t is on top of the p a c k . T h e y a c k n o w l e d g e t h i s and y o u ask t h e m to l o o k a n d t h e n t o b u r y the card in the m i d d l e of the p a c k .

..It is w e l l to s a y s o m e w h e r e in the m i d d l e o f - t h e p a c k , * an o f f h a n d w a y of s u g g e s t i n g the c e n t e r so that it d o e s n ' t sound like a c o m m a n d .

They are then to cut the d e c k s e v e r a l times and then y o u take the p a c k . F a n n i n g t h r o u g h y o u l o o k f o r the five of d i a m o n d s . ITtw run the c a r d s a n d count to the left of this k e y card and the 5763 w i l l a l w a y s come -back to you w i t h n o thought at a l l . Y o u count f i v e c a r d s s t a r t i n g w i t h the k e y card and l o o k f o r the s e v e n . If t h e r e , k e e p on g o i n g a n d count f i v e m o r e to the s i x . S o m e w h e r e a m o n g these g r o u p s w i l l be a s t r a n g e card a n d this w i l l i m m e d i a t e l y b e a p p a r e n t in the c h e c k up of the k e y s . One g r o u p w i l l h a v e s i x c a r d s i n s t e a d of f i v e . T h u s y o u k n o w the s e l e c t e d card to be one of t h e m and y o u cut this group of c a r d s to the top of d e c k .

N o w g l a n c e at them and q u i c k l y r e m e m b e r them f r o m the top down by their v a l u e s only as, 2 3 8 K 6 . P l a c e the p a c k b e h i n d y o u r b a c k and a s k h o w m a n y spots are on the c a r d . I m m e d i a t e l y y o u r h a n d c o m e s out w i t h the c o r r e c t c a r d , and at the same time ask t h e m to n a m e the e n t i r e c a r d . T h e y do so and u p o n t u r n i n g over the card w h i c h y o u h a v e j u s t p l a c e d on their h a n d , it is f o u n d to b e c o r r e c t .

E Y E S A L L A R O U N D . The p e r f o r m e r t e l l s h i s a u d i e n c e that in o r d e r to h e a s u c c e s s f u l m a g i c i a n or m i n d r e a d e r one m u s t find out t h i n g s than an a u d i e n c e d o e s n ' t w i s h h i m to k n o w . H e c o n t i n u e s , 'Tonight I a m g o i n g to g i v e y o u an e x h i b i t i o n of j u s t h o w this m a y b e a c c o m p l i s h e d . ' 'I a m g o i n g to h a v e s e v e r a l of m y a u d i e n c e t h i n k of a n u m b e r f r o m 1 to 10 and w i t h a h i t of c h i c a n e r y I w i l l d i s c o v e r the v e r y t h o u g h t s that y o u w i l l b e t r y i n g to k e e p f r o m m e . '

A s k i n g one p a r t y to think of any n u m b e r f r o m 1 to 10 the p e r f o r m e r p r o d u c e s a p a c k of c a r d s and s a y s , ' W h i l e m y h a c k is t u r n e d , I w a n t y o u to count f r o m

the d e c k one at a time, the full n u m b e r y o u h a v e t h o u g h t of a n d a f t e r s h u f f l i n g this p a c k e t p l a c e t h e m in y o u r p o c k e t . '

The p e r f o r m e r t u r n s h i s h a c k w h i l e this is d o n e . W i t h o u t t u r n i n g a r o u n d a g a i n the p e r f o r m e r h a s s p e c t a t

-or r e m o v e cards from the d e c k u n t i l c o m m a n d e d to s t o p . The p e r f o r m e r takes the s t o p p e d at c a r d f r o m s p e c -tator, t o u c h e s s p e c t a t o r ' s p o c k e t w i t h it, and a s k s h o w m a n y c a r d s are in the p o c k e t w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s the n u m -b e r "-being t h o u g h t o f .

The p a r t y s a y s , f o r i n s t a n c e , 'Eight.'. The p e r -f o r m e r turns o v e r the s t o p p e d at c a r d w h i c h h e is h o l d - -ing a n d it p r o v e s to b e an eight s p o t . R e m a r k i n g that m a n y w i l l t h i n k it a s t r o k e of l u c k or a g o o d g u e s s , the p e r f o r m e r s t a t e s h e w i l l try it again w i t h s o m e o n e e l s e a n d d o e s so s e v e r a l t i m e s , the test a l w a y s b e i n g s u c c e s s f u l . The m e a n s for a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h i s b e a u t i f u l e f f e c t are v e r y s i m p l e , a l t h o u g h b a f f l i n g to the u n i n i t i a t e d , and w i t h the p r o p e r a d d r e s s can h e m a d e into a f e a t u r e d e m o n s t r a t i o n .

The m e t h o d d e p e n d s u p o n a s i m p l e a r r a n g e m e n t . F o r -get the s u i t s . A r r a n g e the v a l u e s f r o m the b a c k of d e c k t o w a r d s f a c e as f o l l o w s ; A , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 1 0 , r e p e a t this three t i m e s m o r e a n d l a s t l y a l l p i c t u r e s c a r d s a r e p l a c e d on the b o t t o m in any o r d e r .

W h e n the first p e r s o n t h i n k s of a n u m b e r , the p e r -f o r m e r shows h i m just w h a t to d o .

P e r f o r m e r , w i t h c a r d s in h a n d , s a y s , ' S u p p o s e y o u t h o u g h t of t h r e e . Y o u w o u l d count t h r e e c a r d s f r o m the

top of the d e c k , o n e at a t i m e . ' P e r f o r m e r s u i t s a c -tion of h i s w o r d s b y d o i n g s o .

H e c o n t i n u e s , 'You w o u l d then lay d e c k a s i d e , m i x the three c a r d s and p l a c e t h e m in y o u r p o c k e t . '

The p e r f o r m e r noy/ places these three dealt off c a r d s on b o t t o m of p a c k and h a n d s s a m e to s p e c t a t o r .

T h e p l a c i n g of t h e s e three c a r d s on the b o t t o m f r o m the" top is v e r y i m p o r t a n t a s this is y o u r clue to the first n u m b e r t h o u g h t o f . T h i s t r i c k w o r k s in tens a n d a s y o u h a v e r e m o v e d t h r e e c a r d s , seven b e -c o m e s y o u r k e y n u m b e r b e -c a u s e three p l u s seven m a k e s t e n . T h e s p e c t a t o r c o u n t s off h i s thought of n u m b e r of c a r d s w h i l e p e r f o r m e r ' s b a c k is t u r n e d . The c o u n t e d off p a c k e t is shuffled a n d p o c k e t e d b y s p e c -t a -t o r . W i -t h o u -t -t u r n i n g -the p e r f o r m e r s a y s , 'Wi-thou-t s e e i n g or k n o w i n g h o w m a n y cards y o u h a v e t a k e n , I w i l l try to d i s c o v e r the n u m b e r of w h i c h y o u a r e

t h i n k i n g . P i c k u p the rest of the p a c k and r e m o v e one f r o m the top for m e . R e m o v e a n o t h e r . A n o t h e r . '

The p e r f o r m e r k e e p s this m a n e u v r e u p , s i l e n t l y k e e p i n g t r a c k of t h e n u m b e r of c a r d s r e m o v e d u n t i l

six are o f f . T h e next c a r d , o r s e v e n t h , is the w a n t e d o n e .

P e r f o r m e r s a y s , 'Place the p a c k on top of t h e c a r d s j u s t c o u n t e d o f f . ' T u r n i n g f o r - t h e ^ f i f

time h e c o n t i n u e s , 'Hand m e the n e x t card f r o m the t o p . '

T a k i n g this card and t o u c h i n g the p o c k e t of the s p e c t a t o r h e a s k s , 'How m a n y h a v e y o u there to r e p -r e s e n t the n u m b e -r thought o f ? '

The s p e c t a t o r says, for i n s t a n c e , 'Eight.' The p e r f o r m e r t u r n s the card h e is h o l d i n g f a c e u p and it p r o v e s to b e an e i g h t .

The c a r d s f r o m the s p e c t a t o r ' s p o c k e t a r e n o w p l a c e d on the b o t t o m of d e c k . The eight spot p e r f o r -m e r is h o l d i n g is a l s o p l a c e d on b o t t o -m , and as e i g h t and two a r e ten, two b e c o m e s the k e y n u m b e r for the next t i m e . In o t h e r w o r d s , no m a t t e r w h a t the secret n u m b e r b e the n e x t time, the p e r f o r m e r k n o w s that the second card w i l l b e the one to re-v e a l the n u m b e r of c a r d s in s p e c t a t o r ' s p o c k e t .

T h i s can b e r e p e a t e d once m o r e or three t i m e s in a l l . It is p o s s i b l e to do this four t i m e s b u t it is d a n g e r o u s a n d n o t a d v i s a b l e b e c a u s e you a r e g e t -ting too d e e p l y into the d e c k f o r s a f e t y .

The only r e a s o n for s p e c t a t o r s h u f f l i n g the c a r d s that h e p o c k e t s is to d e s t r o y the a r r a n g e m e n t so that u p o n r e m o v a l they w i l l n o t b e seen to h a v e a n y p a r t i c u l a r o r d e r .

T H E F A L L OF T H E W I S E

T h e r e h a s n e v e r b e e n a n a u d i e n c e but w h a t con-t a i n e d acon-t leascon-t one 'wise g u y ' w h o w a s r i p e f o r p i c k i n g . The s u c c e s s of this effect d e p e n d s ent i r e l y u p o n enthe a p p a r e n ent c l u m s i n e s s of enthe p e r f o r -m e r i b o t h in g e t t i n g r e a d y to do the t r i c k and in the a c t u a l p e r f o r m a n c e . T h e p e r f o r m e r h a s in h i s p o c k e t the l o w e r and p o i n t e d h a l f of a h e a r t p i p w h i c h h e h a s cut f r o m a c a r d . T i c k i n g u p the p a c k h e says, 'I a m g o i n g to show y o u the c e l e b r a t e d and m u c h talked a b o u t three card m o n t e t r i c k . '

'First I s h a l l r e m o v e three A c e s f r o m the d e c k . ' H e r u n s t h r o u g h the c a r d s b u t d o e s not show the c a r d s

that h e t a k e s o u t .

The p e r f o r m e r a c t u a l l y takes out the A c e of H e a r t s and the two b l a c k A c e s . H e turns h i s b a c k w i t h the r e m a r k that h e w a n t s to a r r a n g e t h e m . H e

r e m o v e s the h a l f pip f r o m p o c k e t and lays it on the A c e of H e a r t s w h e r e t h e u p p e r p i p w o u l d b e on the T h r e e of H e a r t s . H e c o v e r s this h a l f p i p w i t h h i s left t h u m b b u t l e a v e s juBt e n o u g h p r o t r u d i n g b e l o w t h u m b so that it c a n b e seen b u t a p p a r e n t l y u n k n o w n

to p e r f o r m e r . The two b l a c k a c e s a r e - h e l d - w i d e l y - — - ... f a n n e d b y the r i g h t h a n d and in front of a n a g a i n s t

the A c e of H e a r t s . T h u s the u p p e r A c e i n d e x c o r n e r is c o v e r e d b y the left t h u m b and t h e l o w e r A c e i n d e x is c o n c e a l e d b y the right card of the f a n .

W i t h c a r d s h e l d in this m a n n e r h e turns and says, 'Here I h a v e the A c e of C l u b s , A c e of H e a r t s and A c e of S p a d e s . '

I n s t a n t l y the w i s e g u y , s e e i n g the s l i g h t l y v i s i b l e p i p f r o m u n d e r left t h u m b , k n o w s ( ? ) that it

isn't an Ace b u t a three, and i m m e d i a t e l y c l e a r s h i s d e c k s f o r a c t i o n .

P e r f o r m e r states, 'I w i l l l a y the three c a r d s f a c e s d o w n on the t a b l e , * a n d s t i l l h o l d i n g t h e m t u r n s the fan of three f a c e d o w n . As h a n d s are r e m o v e d , the left t h u m b c a r r i e s the h a l f p i p a w a y w i t h i t . T h e p e r f o r m e r says, 'I a m g o i n g to c h a n g e o n e of t h o s e c a r d s into an e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t card and to m a k e it e a s y to follow I s h a l l turn two face u p . ' H e n o w turns the two b l a c k aces f^ce u p .

B y this time the w i s e g u y h a s b e g u n to m a k e h i m -self u s e f u l by r e m a r k s a n d s t a t e s that h e can a l r e a d y n a m e it or w o r d s to the same e f f e c t .

A f t e r a p r o p e r b u i l d u p h e is a l l o w e d to t u r n it over a n d r e c e i v e an o b j e c t l e s s o n that one s h o u l d n e v e r b e t on a n o t h e r m a n ' s g a m e . IT IS T H E A C E OF HEARTS'.

A D I R T Y T R I C K

T h i s is a f i n e effect to u s e w h e r e y o u h a v e "been u s e i n g a p r e a r r a n g e d d e c k and do not care n o w if the o r d e r "be d e s t r o y e d .

In y o u r v e s t p o c k e t y o u h a v e a s m a l l r e c e p t a c l e c o n t a i n i n g p o w d e r e d g r a p h i t e or lead pencil' s c r a p i n g s .

L a y " t h e p a c k on the table and s e c u r e a l i t t l e of the p o w d e r u n d e r the n a i l of y o u r i n d e x f i n g e r of r i g h t h a n d . A s k s o m e o n e to cut the p a c k into two p i l e s . A s y o u say this, m a k e the m o t i o n w i t h y o u r fin-ger and tap the t a b l e n e x t to the d e c k w h e r e the cut off h a l f w i l l l a y . That a c t i o n l e a v e s a s m a l l m o u n d of g r a p h i t e on the t a b l e in r e a d i n e s s .

The c a r d s a r e cut on top of this m o u n d . H e is told to r e m o v e the card cut at (the top card of the l o w e r h a l f ) then to r e t u r n the cut off p o r t i o n and s h u f f l e

the deck t h o r o u g h l y m i n u s the selected c a r d .

H e is then to insert the card h e s e l e c t e d and a g a i n s h u f f l e .

Y o u n o w take the d e c k a n d f a n n i n g t h r o u g h l o o k f o r the one card that w i l l h a v e a s m u d g e on the f a c e of i t . T h i s c a r d is n o t the s e l e c t e d card but b e c a u s e of the f a c t that the d e c k w a s stacked it t e l l s y o u the n a m e of t h e c h o s e n one I Just count one a h e a d in the s y s t e m b e i n g u s e d . T h e n l o o k t h r o u g h the d e c k , f i n d t h i s c a r d — -and p l a c e it f a c e down on the t a b l e .

T h e s p e c t a t o r n a m e s h i s s e l e c t e d c a r d , t u r n s o v e r the o n e on table a n d the p e r f o r m e r is f o u n d c o r r e c t .

W i t h glazed c a r d s , a slight rub of the t h u m b w i l l r e m o v e the s m u d g e .

A L B A K E R ' S S T A C K E D D E C K .

T h i s is m y own o r i g i n a l stacked d e c k and a t r i a l w i l l c o n v i n c e y o u that m a n y w o n d e r f u l s t u n t s can h e d o n e w i t h o u t c o m p l i c a t e d a d d i n g and s u b t r a c t i n g or m e n t a l c a l c u l a t i o n s that are so c o m m o n i n m o t h e r p r e -a r r -a n g e m e n t s .

Y o u must first l e a r n the s i m p l e d i t t y , 'Eight K i n g s t h r e a t e n e d to save, n i n e t y - f i v e l a d i e s f o r one s i c k K n a v e . ' W h e n y o u k n o w t h i s by h e a r t y o u are all r e a d y to a r r a n g e a p a c k a c c o r d i n g to m y f o r m u l a .

A l t h o u g h y o u use the 'Eight K i n g ' d i t t y , it is put to a n o t h e r u s e in this w a y . W h a t e v e r n u m b e r a p p -e a r s on th-e b o t t o m of a g r o u p of c a r d s , th-e n-ext w o r d iA the d i t t y w i l l tell h o w m a n y c a r d s a r e in that g r o u p . F o r i n s t a n c e , if a N i n e a p p e a r d on the b o t t o m of a g r o u p , the p e r f o r m e r w o u l d say to h i m s e l f , 'Nine-ty-five l a d i e s , ' and the w o r d f o l l o w i n g n i n e is f i v e or the n u m b e r of c a r d s . i n that g r o u p .

N o w f o r the set u p of the d e c k . The d i t t y is 'for one s i c k H h a v e , ' so the first card is a f o u r , f o r the r e a s o n that f o u r is o n e . b e c a u s e four p r e c e e d s one in the d i t t y . N o w , h o w do w e f i n d t w o ? W h a t is b e f o r e two in the d i t t y ? T e n . So the s e c o n d c a r d is a T e n . And n o w w h a t is b e f o r e three in the d i t t y ? K i n g . S o K i n g is the third c a r d . — — • — -A c c o r d i n g to this r u l e the a r r a n g e m e n t f r o m the top d o w n f r o m one to ten w i l l b e 4, 10, K , Q , 9, A , 2, J", 7, 3 . T h i s is r e p e a t e d f o u r t i m e s m a k i n g a d e c k of f o r t y c a r d s w h i c h w i l l b e y o u r p r a c t i s e d e c k .

S h u f f l e c a r d s b y o v e r h a n d c u t t i n g u n t i l a three a p p e a r s on the b o t t o m . W h e n a three is on b o t t o m y o u k n o w the c a r d s are in o r d e r .

H o l d the deck fn left h a n d in the same p o s i t i o n for m a k i n g the o n e h a n d C h a r l i e r p a s s . Y o u e x p l a i n that y o u are so p r o f i c i e n t w i t h c a r d s that y o u can i n s t a n t l y tell b y l o o k i n g at them h o w m a n y c a r d s a r e c u t . Y o u a s k h i m to p u s h d o w n a b u n c h and y o u i m m e d -i a t e l y n a m e the n u m b e r of c a r d s p u s h e d down -in th-is m a n n e r . Y o u are a b l e , b y the m a n n e r in w h i c h y o u are h o l d i n g the d e c k , to see the i n d e x c o r n e r of the f a c e card of the p u s h e d d o w n p a c k e t . S u p p o s e it b e a 7 .

B y t h i n k i n g of the j i n g l e , 'Eight K i n g s t h r e a t e n e d to s a v e , ' the next w o r d is 'ninety' or n i n e , and y o u t h e r e f o r e k n o w that either 9, 19, 29 or 39 c a r d s h a v e b e e n p u s h e d d o w n . Y o u r eye i n s t a n t l y tells y o u w h i c h

of the f o u r p o s s i b l e n u m b e r s it i s . S u p p o s e a Q u e e n w e r e to show up on the b o t t o m of the p u s h e d down p a c k -e t . W h a t -e v -e r w o r d f o l l o w s 'ladi-es' in th-e j i n g l -e , that is the n u m b e r of the c a r d . A s 'for' f o l l o w s 'ladies' t h e r e m u s t b e e i t h e r 4, 14, 24, or 34 c a r d s in the p a c k e t , and surely y o u r eye can't d e c e i v e y o u as to w h i c h it m a y b e .

N o w c o m e s the second step of the o p e r a t i o n w h i c h c h a n g e s m a t t e r s s l i g h t l y but w h i c h is j u s t as s i m p l e . S u p p o s e the c a r d s are cut a n u m b e r of t i m e s . In this c a s e the b o t t o m card of the p a c k p l a y s a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t . S a y for i n s t a n c e there is a 9 spot left at the b o t t o m . Y o u r e m e m b e r w h a t f o l l o w s 9 in the j i n g l e . F i v e . So w e call the b o t t o m card a f i v e . A g r o u p is a g a i n p u s h e d d o w n . Y o u g l a n c e at the i n d e x and f i n d a 7 . Y o u k n o w that 'ninety' f o l l o w s 'save' in the j i n g l e so it is a n i n e . Y o u s u b t r a c t the b o t t o m c a r d f r o m the one p u s h e d d o w n . F i v e f r o m n i n e l e a v e s f o u r . So there a r e e i t h e r 4, 14, 24 or 34 c a r d s in the

g r o u p . If the card p u s h e d d o w n ia s m a l l e r t h a n the b o t t o m card y o u m e r e l y add 10 and subtract the b o t t o m c a r d w h i c h gives y o u the c o r r e c t n u m b e r .

If this r u l e i s f o l l o w e d it b e c o m e s j u s t as e a s y to n a m e t h e n u m b e r of c a r d s p u s h e d d o w n a s w h e n they a r e in their n a t u r a l o r d e r .

— B r i n g i n g the c a r d s b a c k to n o r m a l b y g e t t i n g a n y three spot to the b o t t o m , y o u can r e a d i l y cut a n y n u m b e r called f o r . S u p p o s e s o m e o n e c a l l s f o r 2 6 , Y o u t h i n k w h a t p r e c e d e s in the d i t t y . 'One' T h e r e f o r e y o u k n o w that an A c e is at 6, 16, 26 a n d 3 6 . S o y o u cut a p p r o x i m a t e l y 26 c a r d s and l o o k f o r the n e a r e s t A c e .

The above a r r a n g e m e n t of 40 cards w i l l be f o u n d s a t i s f a c t o r y b y m a n y p e r f o r m e r s b u t t h e r e w i l l b e a few who w i l l w a n t a f u l l d e c k of 5 0 . W i t h this p r i n -c i p l e it is i m p o s s i b l e to h a v e 5 2 -c a r d s .

It w i l l h a v e b e e n n o t i c e d that the f i v e s , s i x e s and e i g h t s w e r e left o u t . P l a c e the f o u r f i v e s on the b o t t o m of the d e c k in a suit o r d e r that y o u w i l l r e m e m b e r as one, two, three and f o u r . F o l l o w t h e s e w i t h the f o u r sixes in the same suit o r d e r and c a l l

them f i v e , six, seven and e i g h t . F o l l o w these w i t h two eight spot and ca]l them n i n e and t e n .

T h i s m a k e s just a n o t h e r group of ten c a r d s and the p r i n c i p l e r e m a i n s the s a m e . W h e n the c a r d s a r e n o r m a l they m a k e v e r y l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e if a n y . W h e n the d e c k is cut and one of this group shows up, its' own n u m b e r is u s e d and the j i n g l e f o r g o t t e n in this p a r t i c u l a r case*

F o r e x a m p l e , suppose y o u w e r e u s i n g H e a r t s , C l u b s , D i a m o n d s , S p a d e s f o r y o u r suit o r d e r . T h e n the F i v e of H e a r t s w o u l d h e 'one; the F i v e of C l u b s w o u l d h e 'two'; the 5 D w o u l d h e 3; and the 5S w o u l d h e 4; the 6 H w o u l d h e 5, e t c . , u p to the 1 0 t h card w h i c h w o u l d he the 8 C .

If the p a c k w e r e cut and the 6 D a p p e a r e d on the b o t t o m you w o u l d i n s t a n t l y k n o w it as 7 . S u b t r a c t 7 f r o m the j i n g l e v a l u e of the card p u s h e d d o w n and y o u h a v e the same r e s u l t as w i t h the 4C card d e c k .

In m y b o o k (Al B a k e r ' s B o o k ) there is an e f f e c t titled 'A Card and a N u m b e r ' w h i c h u s e s a p r e a r r a n g e d d e c k . T h i s stack s i m p l i f i e s m a t t e r s g r e a t l y and is a p e r f e c t a r r a n g e m e n t f o r that p a r t i c u l a r t r i c k .

T H E O N E I L I K E

T h i s t r i c k is an object l e s s f o r a l l p e r f o r m e r s . It is a case of g e t t i n g s o m e t h i n g f r o m n o t h i n g .

It is p u r e l y an o f f h a n d effect that y o u can do w h e n e v e r the o c c a s i o n p r e s e n t s i t s e l f and n e e d s a m a n t l e , a s h e l f or some p l a c e w h e r e o b j e c t s can b e p l a c e d a b o v e y o u r h e a d .

T a k e two o b j e c t s that m a y b e h a n d y and p l a c e t h e m on the s h e l f a b o u t h a l f a y a r d a p a r t . H a v e a s p e c t a t o r s t a n d f a c i n g t h e m and a s k h i m to l o o k at them f o r a m i n u t e . H e is to d e c i d e u p o n one of them w h i l e y o u r b a c k is t u r n e d , take it d o w n , say to h i m s e l f 'I l i k e

t h i s one b e s t ' and then r e p l a c e i t . T h e p e r f o r m e r t h e n turns a r o u n d and l o o k i n g at h i m i n t e n t l y for a s e c o n d , i n d i c a t e s T H E O N E H E L I K E D BEST'.

The m e t h o d is s i m p l y the old p r i n c i p l e of b l o o d -l e s s h a n d s . The s p e c t a t o r f a c e s two o b j e c t s above h i m . H e t a k e s d o w n one or the o t h e r a n d then r e p l a c e s . T h e m e r e a c t i o n of this c a u s e s the b l o o d to l e a v e the h a n d u s e d and at a g l a n c e the p e r f o r m e r k n o w s w h i c h h a n d w a s u s e d b e c a u s e of the w h i t e n e s s .

T h i s is m e r e l y to show that n o m a t t e r h o w old and s i m p l e a p r i n c i p l e m a y he, it can b e d r e s s e d in a

m a n n e r that m a k e s it n e w , and w i t h p r o p e r p r e s e n t a t i o n b e c o m e a m o d e r n m i r a c l e .