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Magic, Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions, Including Trick Photography

5. Musical.

625 words  |  Chapter 84

ARTICLES IN SETS. “It will be seen that the different articles are arranged in sets, numbering no more than ten. Each set has at the head a different question, worded very nearly alike, so as to make the audience believe that the same question is being constantly asked. The question at the head of the set, which is always asked first, is the clue to the set which contains the article to be described. Each set is numbered, as in the cases of the colors and metals, and the word conveys each particular article. “For the first set the question is: “‘What article is this?’ “This gives the clue to ten distinct articles. The next demand may be: “‘Can you tell?’ “Which would be solution for ‘bag,’ it being the third in the list. “‘Say the fabric.’ “The reply would be, ‘Silk,’ that being the first in the line of fabrics, and, as I have before stated, ‘say’ representing No. 1. If a leather bag, it would be: ‘Will you tell the fabric?’ ‘will’ standing for No. 5. “A handkerchief is presented, and the question is: “‘What article is this? Say;’ which explains that it is a handkerchief, as that is the first article in the list. “‘Can you tell the fabric?’ “‘Cotton,’ cotton standing third in the list of fabrics. “Then, again, if you want the color--say it is blue-- “‘Can’t you tell the color?’ “‘Blue,’ which stands third on the list of colors. “A watch embodies a greater number of questions than almost any other article. If you want to describe it fully, it is first in the second set, the key of which is: “‘What is this?’ “We will say that it is a lady’s watch, gold, double case, three hands, made by Tobias, No. 9,725, the initials ‘From B. C. to C. H.’ engraved on the case, the year ‘1860,’ and blue enameled, set with five diamonds. This is a complex question, and must be put and answered as follows: “_Question._ ‘What is this? Say.’ “_Answer._ ‘A watch.’ “_Q._ ‘Say the metal.’ “_A._ ‘Gold.’ “_Q._ ‘Say to whom it belongs.’ “_A._ ‘A lady.’ “_Q._ ‘Yes.’ “_A._ ‘A double case.’ “_Q._ ‘Can you tell the number of hands?’ “_A._ ‘Three.’ “_Q._ ‘Will you tell the maker.’ “_A._ ‘Tobias.’ “_Q._ ‘Now the number. Please tell me. Be quick. Won’t you?’ “_A._ ‘9,725.’ “_Q._ ‘Can you tell me the color of this enamel?’ “_A._ ‘Blue.’ “_Q._ ‘Tell the initials. Say.’ “_A._ ‘B. C.’ “_Q._ ‘Say to whom. I want to know.’ “_A._ ‘C. H.’ “_Q._ ‘Say these stones.’ “_A._ ‘Diamonds.’ “_Q._ ‘Will you tell how many?’ “_A._ ‘Five.’ “If it is a double case, the simple word ‘yes’ conveys the intelligence after ‘to whom it belongs.’ If an open case, the word ‘well’ is used. PLAYING CARDS. “These will be found in the sixteenth set, and the order of suits in the eighteenth. We will take the nine of spades as having been presented. The question will be: “‘Say, what is this? Can you tell?’ “‘A playing card.’ “‘Do you know the suit? Now, then.’ “‘Do’ is four, which means spades, and ‘now’ is nine. The cards are told as follows: First, the ‘playing card;’ second, the suit; third, the number or picture. If, after the preliminary question is put and answered, it is an ace, the interlocutor says ‘Right;’ if a king, ‘That’s right;’ if a queen, ‘Good;’ if a jack, ‘Very good.’ MONEY. “This will be found classed in the eighth set, the key to which is, ‘Look at this.’ “No. 6 of the set is described as ‘a piece of money,’ and is always of a less value than a dollar. We will take a silver quarter of the date of
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Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. INTRODUCTION. 3. BOOK I. 4. CHAPTER I. 5. CHAPTER II. 6. CHAPTER III. 7. CHAPTER IV. 8. CHAPTER V. 9. CHAPTER VI. 10. CHAPTER VII. 11. CHAPTER VIII. 12. CHAPTER IX. 13. BOOK II. 14. CHAPTER I. 15. CHAPTER II. 16. CHAPTER III. 17. CHAPTER IV. 18. BOOK III. 19. CHAPTER I. 20. CHAPTER II. 21. CHAPTER III. 22. CHAPTER IV. 23. CHAPTER V. 24. CHAPTER VI. 25. CHAPTER VII. 26. CHAPTER VIII. 27. BOOK IV. 28. CHAPTER I. 29. CHAPTER II. 30. CHAPTER III. 31. BOOK V. 32. CHAPTER I. 33. CHAPTER II. 34. CHAPTER III. 35. INTRODUCTION. 36. 1. FEATS OF DEXTERITY. The hands and tongue being the only means used 37. 2. EXPERIMENTS IN NATURAL MAGIC. Expedients derived from the sciences, 38. 3. MENTAL CONJURING. A control acquired over the will of the 39. 4. PRETENDED MESMERISM. Imitation of mesmeric phenomena, second-sight, 40. 5. MEDIUMSHIP. Spiritualism or pretended evocation of spirits, 41. 1871. His son-in-law, M. Hamilton, continued to carry on the Temple of 42. BOOK I. 43. CHAPTER I. 44. 1. It will be noticed by the observant spectator that the back lid is 45. 3. The opening in the end of the post is now carefully closed and all 46. CHAPTER II. 47. CHAPTER III. 48. CHAPTER IV. 49. 1. Your assistant’s two hands being thus occupied, you will have no sort 50. 1. There is no need of explanation in regard to the apple that comes out 51. CHAPTER V. 52. CHAPTER VI. 53. introduction of the end of the tube into the pharynx is extremely 54. introduction of flat-bladed sabers, among other things, and of the 55. CHAPTER VII. 56. CHAPTER VIII. 57. CHAPTER IX. 58. 1849. Robert Heller saw Houdin give an exhibition of “second sight” in 59. 9. Steel. 60. 10. Topaz. 61. 9. Sketch. 62. 10. Mexico. 63. 10. China. 64. 8. Lace. 65. 7. Swiss. 66. 10. Fan. 67. 10. Charm. 68. 10. Mucilage. 69. 10. Cigar-lighter. 70. 10. Corkscrew. 71. 10. Looking-glass. 72. 10. Envelope. 73. 10. Postage stamp. 74. 10. Stud. 75. 10. Check. 76. 10. Wax. 77. 10. Key. 78. 10. Tuning fork. 79. 10. Doll. 80. 10. Cup. 81. 10. Cork. 82. 10. Strap. 83. 4. Spades. 84. 5. Musical. 85. 1820. The question is: 86. BOOK II. 87. CHAPTER I. 88. CHAPTER II. 89. CHAPTER III. 90. CHAPTER IV. 91. BOOK III. 92. CHAPTER I. 93. CHAPTER II. 94. CHAPTER III. 95. CHAPTER IV. 96. CHAPTER V. 97. CHAPTER VI. 98. CHAPTER VII. 99. CHAPTER VIII. 100. BOOK IV. 101. CHAPTER I. 102. 5. The box L having been put back in place, as well as the curtain R, 103. CHAPTER II. 104. CHAPTER III. 105. BOOK V. 106. CHAPTER I. 107. 1896. The Scovill & Adams Co., publishers. 108. CHAPTER II. 109. CHAPTER III. 110. 2. Arrangement for stopping the strip of film.]

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