FAMILY FUN

New Zealand Tablet, 19 June 1913, Page 62

FAMILY FUN

• - TRICKS AND ILLUSIONS. . (Special to the N.Z. Tablet by Mahatma.) To Discover a Chosen Card.To discover a card which has been chosen ,by a member of the company after that card has been returned to any part of the pack is a sleight which is of the greatest importance to the conjuror, for many tricks are based upon it. A good method is to divide the pack into reds and blacks before commencing the. performance. . A card is chosen, the conjuror noting whether from the top half, which we will suppose contains the red cards, or from the bottom half,of the pack, containing the blacks. If the card is chosen from the reds he must see that it is returned to the bottom part of the pack, and vice versa. A glance will suffice to -show the conjuror the /chosen card. Another method, as the cookery book says, r is to open the pack in the centre and to have a card chosen. This is replaced on the top of the bottom half of the pack. The tip of the left little finger is then inserted between the two halves of the pack, and above the chosen card. If the top half is how carried under the bottom half the chosen card will come to the top of the pack and can be produced when required. A Startling Card Trick.— following trick depends for its success upon the performer’s ability- to find two cards in the manner just described. He invites a lad from the audience on to the stage. This boy, the performer informs his audience, is to assist him in working a great thought reading illusion. The conjuror steps down among the company and has two cards chosen. He opens the pack in the centre and has the first card placed on the bottom half. He inserts his little finger between the -two halves, and under the pretence of shuffling the pack, brings the first chosen card to the top. This operation is gone through with the second card, only this time the card is worked to the bottom of the pack instead of to the top. Thus the position is that the two chosen cards are now at the top and bottom respectively. The performer again reminds the lad on the stage that he is to help him in working out the illusion. The performer now takes the pack between his thumb and first finger, which should previously be slightly moistened. He asks the two persons who chose cards to name their cards, and then throws the pack in the air. The two chosen cards which were at the top and the bottom of the pack will adhere to the finger and thumb. They are now quickly drawn into the palm of the hand and as the cards fall in a shower the hand should again be shot forward and the two cards produced. Now turn to the lad who is. helping and say ‘ I’ve done my part of the trick, will you now do yours by picking up the cards.’ A Good Coin Trick.—Besides being a good trick to perform, the following is a good one to practise when alone, for by it many conjuring mysteries are worked;, Turn up the cuffs of your coat and place a coin on your elbow, your arm being bent towards the shoulder. Now suddenly _ drop the arm and catch the coin in the hand. This is easily performed. You next take a smaller coin and place it halfway between the elbow and the wrist, when by suddenly bringing the hand down the coin will fall into the turned-up cuff and will apparently have disappeared. Now take a tumbler, and bidding the spectators look upwards, inform them that the coin will drop down through the ceiling. By placing the glass at the side of your arm, and elevating the hand the coin will fall into the tumbler. , Another Good Coin Trick.— a hat and throw into it a few pennies. Hold up the hat and shake the coins. Then ask one of the company to taly* one out and pass it round, that the date and any mark upon it may be noted. One of the may place a mark upon it with a penknife. The penny having been well examined is thrown back again into the hat. The latter is placed behind the performer’s back and placing his hand into the hat he triumphantly draws forth the coin which was chosen. The explanation is the penny having been passed from hand to hand in the course of its examination became warm. When thrown amongst the other coins the chosen one was therefore easy enough to discover.