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By Eric F. Impey

The State Library of Victoria " A L M A C O N J U R I N G COLLECTION'

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Published b y : : C E C I L B . GRIFFIN KENTON, ENG. Copyright : :

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W I L L ALMA
M.I.M.C. CLONDON)

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w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e success over a long p e r i o d o f and 'hat I h o p e t h a * to others they v i l l p r o v e t o be as

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3ric

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Impey.

London

June

1931.

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The t o p s a r d o f t h e p a c k h$s a s l i g h t smear p wax on t)ae h a c k , w h i l s t t h e bottom card i s reversed ( f a o e up) . Any p a r d i s t h e p s e l e c t e d b y ' a s p e c t a t o r : ar.d p l a c e d on t h e t o p o f ' t h e p a c k , f a c e u p , f p r h i m t o i n i t i a l . This card (HOT V ' i t h t h e waxed c a r d on t h e b a c k ) i s t a k e n o f f t h e t o p o f t h e pack and i s pushed i n t o t h e c e n t r e o f t h e p a c k ( w h i c h i s s q u a r e d u p ) s t i l l f a c e u p . A c t u a l l y , b e f o r e t h e c a r d i s pushed b a c k t h e p a c k i s t u r n e d o v e r , t h i s f a c t b e i u g c o n c e a l e d by t h e r e v e r s e d c a r d a t t h e b o t t o m o f t h e p a c k . The p a c k , u n d e r j o v e r , i s r e t u r n e d t o i t s o r i g i n a l p o s i t i o n and t h e t o p c a r d i s removed and shown not, t o be t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d t K e e p i n g t h e pack f a c e down and now "held by t h e r i g h t h a n d , f i n g e r s and thumb g r i p p i n g e i t h e r s i d e , and so t h a t t h e p a l m i.-: above t h e p a c k , t h e b o t t o m c a r d i s t a k e n h o l d o f by i t s r e a r m o s t ( n e a r e s t t o p e r f o r m e r ) e d g e , ar.d drawv- dovr.wards and t o w a r d s f h e f r o n t b y t h e l o f t b a n d , and f h o n r e l e a s e d b / t h e f i n g e r s o f t h e r i g h t h a n d t h e l e f t hand s t i l l d r a w i n g f o r w a r d . T h i s i s p e r f e c t l y s i m p l e t h o u g h i t may sound i n v o l v e d , and p r o d u c e s t h e e f f e c t o f t h e c a r d b e i n g drawn p e r f e c t l y n a t u r a l l y f r o m t h e b o t t o m o f *-he p a o k t The move s i m p l y has t h e e f f e c t o f t u r n i n g t h e j ^ r d t h e same way as t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e p a c k . T h i s c a r d i s a l s o shown n o t t o be r h e s e l e c t e d c a r d and i s r e t u r n e d t o t h e b o t t o m o f t h e p a c k o o ^ r - j c t way u p , S t a t i n g t h a t *-he s e l e c t e d c a r d has now v a n i s h e d f r o m t h e p a c k , t h e p e r f o r m e r r u n s t h r o u g h t h e pack back o u t and shows t h a t , t h e s e l e c t ed c a r d w h i c h was r e v e r s e d , has now c h a n g e d . T n i s c a r d ( w i t h s e l e c t e d c a r d a t b a c k ; i s w i t h d r a w n and p l a c e d on f h e t a b l e . The pack i s now r u n t h r o u g h f a c e up and i t i s seen t n a t t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d has e n t i r e l y d i s a p p e a r e d . S t i l l k e e p i n g t h e pack f a c e u p ; t h e d o u b l e c a r d i s r e t u r n e d t o t h e c e n t r e o f t h e pack, keeping the f a c e of the card (not s e l e c t e d ) towards the s p e c t a t o r s , The pack i s t h e n s q u a r e d up and turned, back o u t . The s e l e c t e d c a r d i s f o u n d t o have m y s t e r i o u s l y r e t u r n e d , and as i n f a n n i n g o u t t h B waxed c a r d s w i l l s e p a r a t e , t h e s e l e c t e d p a r d i s handed o u t f o r e x a m i n a t i o n w h i c h i s i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w e d by h a n d i n g o u t t h e p a c k a l s o .

T U R N

T h i s t r i c k i s s i m i l a r t o t h e u s u a l r e v e r s e d c a r d e f f e c t , but t h e s e l e c t e d c - r d i s r e p l a c e d i n t h e c e n t r e o f the papk w h i l s t it, i s f u n n e d . The t r i c k i s i n t e n d e d t o f o l l o w t h e "Flyaway Card" which i s d e s c r i b e d above. The b o t t o m c a r d has a s l i g h t , smear o f s e l e c t e d , and i s p l a c e d f-=>ce down on t h e card) and i s i n i t i a l e d upon i t s back b y waxed c a r d a d h e r i n g t o i t , i s p l a c e d , s t pack i s now t u r n e d b a c k o u t and f a n n e d . r a x upon i t s f a c e . \ card i s f r e e l y f a c e o f t h e p a c k ( o n t o p o f t h e waxed the spectator. The c a r d , w i t h t h e i l l f a c e down, upon t h e t a b l e . The The d o u b l e c a r d i s t a k e n u p , and i s

( u n d e r c o v e r ) t u r n e d r o u n d so t h a t , t h e waxed c a r d i s now u p p e r m o s t , and i s i n s e r t ed i n t h e c e n t r e o f t h e f a n . T h e p a c k i s s q u a r e d u p , and u p o n b e i n g r u n o u t ( t h e d o u b l e c a r d w i l l s e p a r a t e u n d e r t h e p r e s s u r e ) , t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d i s seen t o be r e v e r s e d a n d i s r e m o v e d and h a n d e d f o r e x a m i n a t i o n , as s t a t e d a b o v e , t h i s e f f e c t i s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e n d e d t o f o l l o w t h e " F l y a w a y C a r d 1 ' , i n w h i c h c a s e , t h e o n e s e l e c t e d c a r d i s u s e d t h r o u g h o u t , and a l s o , b e s i d e s t h e t o p c a r d , t h e r e v e r s e d c a r d on t h e b o H o m o f t h e p a c k i n t h e f i r s t effect,is waxed ( t h ? s o n e o n t h e f a o e ) > a n d a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e f i r s t e f f e c t , i s t h e n u s 3d as a o o v e . I t w i l l b e n o t e d t h a t w h o r e t h e tyro e f f e c t s a r e w o r k e d together, b o t h f r o n t and b a c k o f '-he s e l e c t e d c a r d a r e m a r k e d b y t h e s p e c t a t o r ' w h o may r e t a i n h i s c a r d at, t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e t w o e f f e c t s as a s o u v e n i r .

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The p e r f o r m e r r e m o v e s a c a r d f r o m a b l u e b a c k e d p a c k and t h r o w s i t o n t h e t a b l e , f a c e down. Now, t a k i n g u p a r e d b a c k e d p a c k and s h o w i n g t h e c a r d s to be a l l d i f f e r e n t , h e h a s any c a r d f r e e l y s e l e c t e d and r e t a i n e d b y t h e s e l e c t o r . The b l u e b a c k e d c a r d i s t u r n e d up and i t i s t h e same as t h e c a r d t h a t t h e spectator sslected. Th?: o n l y B J . e i g h t i n v o l v e d i s t h e M e x i c a n T u r n o v e r a n d , s h o u l d t h e r e a d e r t h i n k t h a t t h e p r y - s e n t w r i t e r h a s some p r e d i l e c t i o n f o r t h i s s l e i g h t , h e w o u l d bo q u i r . c c o r r e c t , as t h e w r i t e r do-js c o n s i d e r t h a + n o w a d a y s i t s e f f e c t i v e n e s s i s , mere o f t e n t h e n n o t , c o m p l e t e l y o v e r l o o k e d . The r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e t r i c k a r o ( l ) a b l u e backed p a c k (?,) a d o u b l e b a c k e d c a r d s h o w i n g r e d o n e s i d e and b l u e t h e o t h e r , end ( 3 ) a r e d b a c k e d p a c k p r e p a r e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g m a n n e r : I t i s composed o f t w e n t y - s i x c a r d s , d u p l i c a t e d , m a k i n g f i f t y - t w o i n a l l . The pack i s arranged i n p a i r s of d u p l i c a t e cards. A l l t h e cards used i n t h e t r i c k are r e v e r s i b l e , s u c h as " A n g e l B a c k s " , and i n t h e p r e p a r e d p a c k , t h e s e c o n d c a r d o f each p a i r i s r e v e r s e d i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e f i r s t c a r d . A l l the' f i r s t curds are t u r n e d t h e same w a y . T h i s p a c k c a n be r i f f l e d t o show t h a t t h e c a r d s a r e a l l different. The d o u b l e b a c k e d c a r d i s i n t h e b l u e p a c k , and t h i s i s t h e c a r d t h a t t h e p e r former selects from i t . The c a r d i s p l a c e d o n t h e t a b l e , b l u e b a c k u p * The r e d p ^ c k i s t a k e n u p , s h o w n , and a c a r d f r e e l y s e l e c t e d and r e t a i n e d b y t h e spcct.3t.or. The d u p l i c a t e o f t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d i s c u t t o t h e t o p i m m e d i a t e l y t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d has been w i t h d r a w n . T h e t o p c a r d ( d u p l i c a t e ) i s t a k e n u p and the card on t h e t a b l e i s t u r n e d o v e r (?) w i t h i t u s i n g t h e Mexican Turnover- l e a v i n g t h e d u p l i c a t e f a c e up on t h e t a b l e . As t h e d o u b l e b a c k e d c a r d i s t a k e n up i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e s l e i g h t , i t i s f l i c k e d o v e r b e t w e e n t h e f i n g e r s so as t o p r e s e n t i t s r e d b a c k t,o t h e s p e c t a t o r s . There i s n o t h i n g f u r t h e r t o add, e x c e p t p e r h a p s f o r t h e s a k e o f t h o s e who do n o t k n o w t h e " M e x i c a n T u r n o v e r " t h a t a f u l l d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e s l e i g h t i s t o be f o u n d i n S r d n a s e ' s " E x p o r t at t h e Card T a b l e " .

SYNCHRO NO

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Pack.

T h i s i s a n o v e l m e c h a n i c a l p a c k w h i c h i s c a p a b l e o f a v a s t number o f u s e s . B e l o w w i l l b e f o u n d p a r t i c u l a r s as t o t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f t h e p a c k ( i t c a n b e made up i n t e n m i n u t e s ) and f o l l o w i n g t h a t a r e a f e w o f i<-s u s e s . T w e n t y s i x p a i r s o f c a r d s a r e r e q u i r e d , each p a i r b e i n g d u p l i c a t e s . A s s e m b l a f u l l pack of d u p l i c a t e c a r d s f i f t y two cards a l t o g e t h e r . Place the top c a r d on t h e b o t t o m o f t h e p a c k . Now t a k e t h e n e x t t w o c a r d s f r o m t h e t o p o f t h e p a c k and s t i c k them t o g e t h e r b y t h e b o t t o m r i g h t hand c o r n e r s . Thus t h e r e a r c a r d w i l l be t h e d u p l i c a t e o f t h e c a r d w h i o h has j u s t b e e n p l a c e d on t h e b o t t o m of t h e p a c k . T r e a t t h e n e x t t w o c a r d s s i m i l a r l y , and c o n t i n u e r i g h t through the pack* R e - a s s e m b l e t h e p a i r s so t h a t t h e y l i e i n t h e i r o r i g i n a l order. I t w i l l now be o b s e r v e d t h a t o n l y t w e n t y s i x c a r d s a r e t o be s e e n , t h a t t h e y a r e a l l d i f f e r e n t , and t h a t t h e y a r e i n no p a r t i c u l a r o r d e r . A few uses f o r t h i s pack f o l l o w . f i r s t of a l l , the top card, t h a t i s to Say the top h a l f of the top (double) c a r d w i l l a l w a y s be known by s i g h t i n g t h e b o t t o m c a r d w h i c h i s i t s d u p l i c a t e . To show t h e t o p c a r d , h o l d t h e p a c k i n t h e r i g h t hand g r i p p i n g t h e l o w e r m o s t r i g h t hand c o r n e r ( s t u c k ) b e t w e e n t h e thumb and f i r s t f i n g e r , and r a i s e t h e top card ( r e a r h a l f ) w i t h t h e f i r s t f i n g e r of t h e l e f t hand. To g a i n k n o w l e d g e o f any c a r d f r e e l y s e l e c t e d : H o l d f a n i n t h e r i g h t hand and ask a s p e c t a t o r t o p o i n t , t o any c a r d . Separate t h e cards at t h e p o i n t i n d i c a t e d , t a k e u p t h e c a r d s above t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d i n t h e l e f t hand and t u r n up t h e t o p ( f a k e ) c a r d as a b o v e . As t h i s i s d ^ n e t h e f a c e c a r d o f t h e p a c k e t i n t h e l e f t hand ( d u p l i c a t e o f t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d ) i s v i s i b l e t o y o u . To name t h e c a r d s one a f t e r t h e o t h e r : From t o p o f pack downwards. Sight the bottom c a r d . Show t h e t o p c a r d ( f a k e ) as b e f o r e , t h e n l o t f a k e f a l l b a c k on t o p o f t h e p a c k . Name c a r d and draw i t , o f f , g l a n c i n g a t i t , t o v e r i f y ( a c t u a l l y t o see what + h e n e x t c a r d i s ) , b u t n o t s h o w i n g i t t o t h e s p e c t a t o r s . P l a c e i t f a c e down o n t h e t a b l o and c o n t i n u e w i t h t h e n e x t c a r d . Reverse t h e o r d e r o f t h e named c a r d s b y c o u n t i n g f r o m one h a n d t o t h e o t h e r b e f o r e r e t u r n i n g them t o *-he p u c k . To r e v e r s e t h e p o s i t i o n s o f t h e two u p p e r m o s t c a r d s : Show t h e t o p c a r d ( f a k e ) c a l l i n g p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n t,o i t ( a s s u m e t h a t i t i s t h e F o u r o f D i a monds). Then p l a c e t h i s c a r d f a c e down o n t h e t a b l e . Place the next c i r d a l s o on t h e t a b l e , b u t w i t h o u t s h o w i n g i t . ask a s p e c t a t o r t o p o i n t t o the F^ur of Diamonds. T u r n u p t h e f i r s t c a r d w h i c h has n^w c h a n g e d a n d r e t u r n i t to the top of the pack. T u r n u p t h e s e c o n d card>now t h e F o u r o f Diamonds and r e t u r n t o t h e t o p o f t h e p a c k a l s o , A further effect: I n removing the cards f r o m t h e card case, leave t h e t o p card behind. R i f f l e t h e p a c k by *-he GUMM5D end and h a v e a s p e c t a t o r i n s e r t h i s f i n g e r anywhere i n t h e p a c k . Separate t h e c a r d s at t h e s e l e c t e d p o i n t have t h e s p e c t a t o r w i t h d r a w h i s f i n g e r n n d s l i p t h e t o p c a r d to t h e c u t . P l a c

t h e u p p e r c u t o n t h e t a b l e , t u r n i n g +he paok r o u n d end f o r and i n so d o i n g . T u r n t h e l o w e r h a l f o f t h e p a c k end f o r end a l s o , and show f a k e t o p c a r d and p l a c e i t on t h e t a b l e . R e t u r n t h e t o p h a l f o f t h e p a c k and r e p l a c e t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d on t o p . Show f a k e c a r d a g a i n and t h e n f a l s e s h u f f l e a s k i n g t h e s p e c t a t o r s t o n o t e t h a t t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d i s n o t removed i n any w a y . Bring t h e c a r d s b a c k t o t h e i r o r i g i n a l p o s i t i o n and t h e n r u n t h r o u g h t h e p a c k f a c e u p , s h o w i n g t h a t t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d has v a n i s h e d . The c a r d i s t h e n d i s c o v e r e d i n t h e c a r d c a s e and i s r e t u r n e d t o t h e t o p o f t h e p a c k . T h i s p a c k has u n l i m i t e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s enlargement upon them. but space w i l l not permit any further

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MEMORY.

The i d e a b e h i n d t h i s p a c k i s t h i s : I f t h e Ace o f C l u b s i s t h e 1 0 t h c a r d from the top of *he pack, then a d u p l i c a t e of t h a t card i s t h e 10th from the b o t t o m o f t h e p a c k a n d so o n w i t h e v e r y c a r d i n t h e p a c k . However, i n o r d e r t h a t t h e p a c k may b e e x a m i n e d , t h e r e must be no d u p l i c a t e c a r d s , and t h i s d i f f i c u l t y i s got o v e r i n 'he f o l l o w i n g m a n n e r : t h e number o f s p o t s and t h e c o l o u r w i l l r e m a i n t h e same, b u t t h e o p p o s i t e SUIT w i l l be u s e d f o r t h e d u p licate. Thus 5.n t h e example a b o v e , i f t h e Ace o f C l u b s i s t h e 1 0 t h c a r d f r o m t h e t o p t h e n t h e Ace o f SPADES w i l l be t h e 1 0 t h c a r d f r o m t h e b o t t o m , lb w i l l be o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e r e a r e h u n d r e d s o f d i f f e r e n t a r r a n g e m e n t s p o s s i b l e , b u t , f o r *-he sake o f c o n v e n i e n c e , one a r r a n g e m e n t i s i n c l u d e d a t t h e f o o t o f the descriptive matter. A single c u t , a f t e r concluding w i t h t h i s pack, w i l l e f f e c t i v e l y conceal the arrangement. A r r a n g e a pack o f cards i n accordance w i t h t h e arrangement given.

Performance: Run t h r o u g h t h e p a c k f a c e o u t p r e t e n d i n g t o m e m o r i s e t h e p o s i t i o n s uf the cards. T u r n t h e p a c k b a c k o u t and r u n t h e c a r d s f r o m o n e hand t o t h e o t h e r , a f t h e same t i m e c o u n t i n g t h e m . The s p e c t a t o r removes and r e t a i n s t h e c a r d h e s e l e c t s , and t h e number ( p o s i t i o n f r o m t h e t o p ) w i l l b e known to the performer. Assume t h a t i t i s number 1 5 . T u r n t h e p a c k f a c e o u t and r u n t h r o u g h once more, a g a i n c o u n t i n g t h i s t i m e f r o m t h e f a c e o f t h e p a c k . The 1 5 t h c a r d i s t h e K i n g o f D i a m o n d s , t h e r e f o r e t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d was t h e K i n g of Hearts. N o t e a l s o t h e 1 6 t h c a r d , and u p o n a r r i v i n g a t t h e d u p l i c a t e o f t h i s c a r d , s t o p , name t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d and h a v e i t r e t u r n e d i m m e d i a t e l y b e h i n d t h e duplicate 16th card. The p a c k i s now r e a d y t o be u s e d a g a i n . A further effect with t h i s pack. Have a c a r d s e l e c t e d i n t h e same manner as b e f o r e . H o l d t h e p a c k b e h i n d + h e b a c k and c o u n t t o t h e d u p l i c a t e . Place t h e d u p l i c a t e on t h e f a c e o f t h e p a c k . B r i n g t h e pack t o t h e f r o n t , glimpse d u p l i c a t e , name t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d and h a v e t h a t c a r d r e t u r n e d t o t h e t o p o f the pack. This r e t a i n s the arrangement.

arrangement

2D, JH, 6H, 4C, 10S, 5 S , 4H, 3 3 , 9S,QC, 9D, 5 D , B-C, QD, K R , 6 S , AS, J S , 7S, 2C, 8D, 3H, 10H, AD, KC, 7H, 7D, KS, AH, 10D, 3D, 8H, 2 3 , 7C, JC, AC, 6C, KD, Q.H, 8 3 , 5H, 9H, QS, 9C, 3 C , 4D, 5C, I C C , 4S, 6D, J D , 2H.

IN

REVHISE.

T h i s i s a s l e i g h t , and so f a r as i s k n o w n , i s q u i t e new and o r i g i n a l , and c o n s i s t s o f r e v e r s i n g one c a r d i n t h e c e n t r e o f t h e p a c k w i t h o n l y one c o n t i n u o u s movement. The a c t u a l movements a r e d e s c r i b e d f i r s t , follows. whilst the surrounding detail

The p a c k i s h e l d o p e n , b o o k w i s e , a l m o s t as i f a b o u t t o p e r f o r m t h e C h a r l i e r s i n g l e - h a n d e d p a s s , and t h e f o r e f i n g e r i s a l r e a d y r a i s i n g t h e l o w e r p a c k e t . The t h u m b , h o w e v e r , i s u p o n t h e FACE o f t h e u n d e r m o s t c a r d o f t h e t o p p a c k e t ( c a r d t o be r e v e r s e d ) i n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e t o p p a c k e t r e s t s on f h e t h u m b . The thumb s l i d e s t h i s u n d e r m o s t c a r d o u t f r o m t h e r e m a i n d e r , b u t s t i l l k e e p i n g +he s i d e s o f t h e card p a r a l l e l w i t h them: w h i l s t t h e f o r e f i n g e r f o l l o w s up t h e movement o f t h i s c a r d b y p u s h i n g up t h e u n d e r p a c k e t at * h e same f i m e . As +he movements a r e c o n t i n u e d 4 -he c a r d o n ( h e thumb s w i n g s o v e r a g a i n s t t h e r i s i n g l o w e r p a c k e t , , r e v e r s e s i d e up '-ha4- p a c k e t . The f o r e f i n g e r movement i s c o n t i n u e d as u s u a l u n t i l t h e l o w e r p a c k e t goes o v e r + h e u p p e r p a c k e t , and c a r r y i n g w i t h i t * h e r e v e r s e d c a r d ' r i g h t i n t o t h e c e n t r e o f '-he p a c k o n c e m o r e . I n a c t u a l u s e i t i s b e s t t o h a v e a c a r d c h o s e n f r o m '-he p a c k w h i c h i s t h e n c u t a t a b o u t t h e c e n t r e , l e a v i n g one h a l f ( l o w e r p a c k e t ) i n t h e h a n d . The c h o s e n card i s r e t u r n e d t o t h e f a c e of t h e o t h e r h a l f (upper p a c k e t ) , w h i c h i s then placed i n f h e f i r s t p o s i t i o n i n d i c a t e d above.

TONE

CONTROL. whilst

T h i s i s a good c a r d e f f e c t , b e i n g q u i t e i n e x p l i c a b l e t o t h e s p e c t a t o r , a t t h e same t i m e b e i n g p e r f o r m e d w i t h o u t p r e p a r a t i o n .

The p e r f o r m e r b o r r o w s a p a c k o f c a r d s , s i g h t s t h e two u n d e r m o s t c a r d s , and asks a s p e c t a t o r t o d e a l t h e p a c k i n t o f o u r h e a p s . T h i s done t h e t w o known c a r d s a r e a t t h e t o p o f h e a p s t h r e e and f o u r . The s p e c t a t o r i s a s k e d t o s e l e c t e i t h e r heaps one and t w o o r heaps t h r e e and f o u r . W h a t e v e r h e d o e s , h e i s t h e n asked t o s e l e c t a c a r d f r o m e i t h e r heap one o r heap t w o , and t o p l a c e i t on t o p o f e i t h e r of the o t h e r s . When h e has c a r r i e d o u t h i s i n s t r u c t i o n s , t h e p e r f o r m e r knows which card t h e s e l e c t e d card l i e s next t o . I t now o n l y r e m a i n s f o b r i n g t h e e f f e c t t o a s u c c e s s f u l c o n c l u s i o n , and h e r e o f c o u r s e , t h e p e r f o r m e r h a s ample

c h o i c e o f m e a n s , and w i l l no d o u b t s e l e c t a m e t h o d "wki^b. i i e prefers. Two c o n c l u s i o n s a r e g i v e n h e r e w i t h 1 , The s p e c t a t o r i s a-sked t o r e - a s s e m b l e t h e p a c k and t o c u t i t s e v e r a l t i m e s , and t h e n +o d e a l o f f t h e c a r d s o n e b y o n e , f r o m t h e f a c e o f l h e p a c k , a t t h e same + i m e n a m i n g t h e m . During + his p r o c e d u r e t h e p e r f o r m e r h a s h i s b a c k t o t h e s p e c t a t o r and h a s i n f o r m e d h i m t h a t he w i l l d e t e c t t h e s e l e c t e d c a r d b y <-he t o n e o f t h e s p e c t a t o r ' s v o i c e when he a r r i v e s a t t h e c a r d . 2. T h e p e r f o r m e r i s b l i n d f o l d e d and a s k s t h e s p e c t a t o r t o h o l d h i s ( p e r f o r m e r ' s ) h a n d as h e r u n s i t o v e r + h e c a r d s w h i c h h a v e b e e n c u t and t h e n s p r e a d f a c e u p o n t h e t a b l e . He s t o p s a t t h e c h o s e n c a r d , h a v i n g been g u i d e d ( ? ) by t h e mind o f t h e s p e c t a t o r .

DO UB LE-F AC ED

CARDS .

F r o m t i m e t o t i m e i n v a r i o u s m a g i c a l b o o k s and p u b l i c a t i o n s , t h e r e h a v e appeared methods f o r making d o u b l e f a c e d o r d o u b l e backed c a r d s . Usually the a u t h o r h a s p r e f a c e d h i s r e m a r k s w i t h s u c h p h r a s e s as " T h e R e a l M e t h o d " o r " T h e Best Means", o r something s i m i l a r . However, a l l t h e s e a u t h o r s have, i n t h e l o n g r u n , o n l y a c h i e v e d t h e same end as t h e i r p r e d e c e s s o r s , a n d i n no c a s e h a v e t h e y b e e n a b l e t o p r o d u c e s u c h p r e p a r e d c a r d s as w o u l d , as r e g a r d s a p p e a r a n c e and f e e l , s t a n d t h e t e s t o f c o m p a r i s o n w i t h a g e n u i n e c a r d t a k e n f r o m t h e same p a c k as t h a t f r o m w h i c h t h e p r e p a r e d c a r d was m a d e . The t r o u b l e has b e e n t h a t ( i ) t h e p r e p a r e d c a r d i s d i s c o l o u r e d , and ( i i ) t h a t a l l s e m b l a n c e o f g l a z e h a s disappeared from the s u r f a c e of the card. These two f a c t o r s have n e v e r , u n t i l t h e p r e s e n + moment, been o v e r c o m e . The f a c t b e i n g t h a t t h e p r o c e s s e s used have been i n c o r r e c t f r o m t h e i r v e r y commencement. The u s u a l m e t h o d ( m i n u s t h e d e t a i l ) was t o s o a k t w o c a r d s i n w a t e r and t h e n t o s p l i t e a c h c a r d i n t o a f a c e and. b a c k . The t w o f a c e s ( o r b a c k s ) w e r e t h e n s t u c k t o g e t h e r , making a double f a c e d c a r d . Now p l a y i n g c a r d s a r e made f r o m t h r e e s h e e t s o f m a t e r i a l n o t t w o as w o u l d a p p e a r f r o m t h e a b o v e . The a c t u a l p r i n t i n g ( f a c e and b a c k o f c a r d ) i s u p o n t h i n p a p e r , w h i l s t b e t w e e n t h e t w o l i e s a sheet o f c a r t r i d g e ( o r s i m i l a r ) p a p e r upon w h i c h t h e paper s h e e t s a r e s t u c k . The u s e o f w a t e r w i l l a l w a y s c a u s e t h e g l a z e t o d i s a p p e a r f r o m + h e c a r d , and t h a t i s w h e r e t h e r e a l f a l l a c y o f p r e v i o u s p r o c e s s e s i s so a b s u r d l y a p p a r e n t . A l t h o u g h i t , was k n o w n t o d e s t r o y t h e g l a z e ( w i t h o u t w h i c h a c a r d c a n n o t a p p e a r g e n u i n e , and w h i c h c a n n o t be r e p l a c e d ) , t h e s e a u t h o r s s t i l l c o n t i n u e t o p r e s cribe i t . THE CORRECT BATH FOR SOAKING CaRDS I S PETROL ( G A S O L I N E ) . Leave t h e c a r d o r c a r d s t o s o a k f o r a b o u t 20 m i n u t e s . T a k e o u t o n e c a r d and w i t h t h e a i d o f a k n i f e , s e p a r a t e , a t one c o r n e r , t h e p a p e r f a c e o f t h e c a r d f r o m t h e two r e m a i n ing thicknesses. Now i m m e r s e t h e c a r d c o m p l e t e l y i n t h e p e t r o l and w o r k i n g f r o m t h i s s e p a r a t e d c o r n e r , g e n t l y remove t h e w h o l e p a p e r f a c e . Place the paper f a c e t o one s i d e t o d r y . Now t a k e t h e c a r d w h i c h i s t o b e u s e d f o r t h e o t h e r face of the prepared card. I m m e r s e t h i s as b e f o r e and f r o m t h i s c a r d r e m o v e the paper back. Leave t h e f a c e w i t h t h e i n t e r n a l c a r d t o d r y . Fhen b o t h p a r t s have been d r y i n g f o r about h a l f an h o u r , p a s t e b o t h s e c t i o n s w i t h t h i n

o f f l e a p a s t e and s t i c k t h e m t o g e t h e r . Smooth t h e t h i n * * * * - - s i d e o f * h e c a r d w i t h a c l o t h and p l a c e i t o n one s i d e f o r a b o u t f i f t e e n m i n u s e s . I n +he meantime, h e a t up an e l e c t r i c i r o n t o a m o d e r a t e t e m p e r a t u r e ( r a t h e r h a v e i t t o o o o o l t h a n t o o h o t ) , now s m o o t h t h e f a c e s o f t h e p r e p a r e d c a r d w i t h t h e i r o n . T r i m round t h e edges o f t h e c a r d w i t h a p a i r o f s c i s s o r s ( t h e p a p e r a p p e a r s t o s t r e t c h s l i g h t l y i n t h e p r o c e s s o f s e p a r a t i n g ) and t h e n i r o n c a r e f u l l y r o u n d t h e s e edges t o remove t h e s l i g h t "edge 1 1 o r e a t e d b y c u t t i n g . By j u d i o i o u s i r o n i n g any w a r p i n t h e c a r d may b e r e m o v e d . The c a r d i s now c o m p l e t e u n d i s c o l o u r e d attempt, t 0 u s e t h e c a r d f o r t w o h o u r s ,
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Copyright

1931 by C e c i l .

Griffin