FAMILY FUN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 6, 7 February 1907, Page 38

FAMILY FUN

The ' Spelling bee ' trick is an interesting little performance with; cards, and can also bo made most amusing, especially in a small circle. Secretly arrange the first 13 cards of a pack in the following o:ider : 3, 8, 7, 1, King, 6, 4, 2, Queen, Knave, 10, i>, 5, the 3 being the first or top card, and the 5 being the thirteenth from the top. In presenting the trick, carelessly shuffle thi) bottom part of the pack, being, however, careful not to disturb the order of the pce-arranged cards. Ask someone to cut the pack. The performer in picking up the cards, crosses his hands and picks up the two parts simultaneously, replacing them in tht'ir original position. This ruse is never detected if done without hesitating.

The performer now says— 1 I want thirteen cards,' awl he counts from the top, keeping them in the same order, and being careful not to put No. 2 on No. 1 and •so on. Each card must go under its immediate top one.

Take the thirteen cards off the pack and spread ihem face upwards, without remark, but ostensibly to show that they are a mixed lot taken without any regard to order ; but noticing that the thirteenth' card is a five. This ensures the correct number and order of the cards. The cards are now pickgd up again and cut whist fashion by the company several times. The performer stops the cutting when he sees the 5 appear at the bottom again. They are then in the original order, and if spelled out, placing a card at the bottom of the pack for each letter, at -the completion of each word, the next card will be the one the name of whith has been spelled, i.e., ONE one, the fourth card will be found to be the ace, amd it is thrown on the table ; TWO two, the eighth card is shown, a two, and is thrown on the table, and so on until- the names of all the cards have been spelled. The cards may be cut at any time, if the card which is at the bottom when the cards are cut is cut •to the bottom again, before propeeding with the spelling. In spelling 'Queen,' E E must be used, placing a card at the bottom for- each letter.

Occasionally a feint may be made -which w*ill considerably heighten the effect. - For instance : having spelled out the name of a card, say a seven, before showing it to the,, audience, the performer glances at the card and, pretending to have made a mistake, says, v 'Ah ! that's a Queen ! Kindly blow upon it?.* Give the card a smart click underneath with the thumb, and ■' lo ! it has apparently changed to the proper - card namely, a 7, which, is .shown' to the audience, . thrown on the table, and the • spelling proceeded with-. • -

The disastrous hurricane that struck Cooktown on ' January 19 was one* of the most violent experienced . •in the north for some years. The whole town - was damaged, and many narrowly with their lives. St Mary's Ohurch was completely demolished,* and the convent and school were unroofed.