BY WAY of showing the higher flights to which the use of double cards may be put, a detailed description and explanation of this trick devised by David Devant, the great English magician, follows: Having invited a gentleman to occupy a chair facing the audience the performer begins by calling attention to a complete pack of cards displayed on a blackboard on an easel and also to a quantity of wide ribbon. He removes the two top rows of cards, half the pack, drops them face downwards on a tray and asks the spectator to take them, cut the pack and put the halves together face to face and then to twist the center part of the ribbon several times around the cards. He then gives the two ends of the ribbon to two ladies seated at the extreme right and left of the front row, forming as he explains 'The Triangle' of which the spectator is the Apex. He removes the other half of the cards from the easel and puts them face up on the tray. Each of the ladies is then asked to mentally select one card. This done he gathers up the cards and asks each lady to hold the packet in turn at the end of their ribbon and to wish the card thought of to leave the packet and go to the gentleman's at the Apex. The ladies name their cards, the packet is spread out and the cards are no longer in it. The spectator unwinds the ribbon from his packet and in it he finds the two cards mentally selected.
Method:
A prepared pack, several yards of wide ribbon, an easel with a blackboard having four thin strips across it to hold the cards, a tray and a chair are required. One half of the pack consists of double-faced cards, the cards on the backs being duplicates of the unprepared half of the pack. The cards are placed on the easel so that the two top rows are the ordinary cards, the two bottom rows are the double-faced cards. They overlap a little so that they can be picked up quickly. The performer takes off the two top rows, which the spectator puts into a faced packet and then winds the center part of the ribbon round it. The two ends of the ribbon are handed to the two ladies. He takes the two remaining rows from the easel and secretly turns them over in getting the tray, thus bringing the duplicates of the cards wrapped in ribbon into view. Each lady in turn is asked to merely think of one of these cards. He gathers up the cards, has each lady hold them to her end of the ribbon and as the cards are named he secretly turns the packet again. Naturally the two cards are no longer to be seen. Since duplicates of these cards have been in the packet wrapped in the ribbon all the time, the spectator on the stage finds them and the trick is brought to a successful end. In the meantime the performer has had ample opportunity to drop the double-faced cards into his pocket and bring out the twenty-six cards necessary to make up a complete pack. This he hands to the spectator for inspection.
Method:
A prepared pack, several yards of wide ribbon, an easel with a blackboard having four thin strips across it to hold the cards, a tray and a chair are required. One half of the pack consists of double-faced cards, the cards on the backs being duplicates of the unprepared half of the pack. The cards are placed on the easel so that the two top rows are the ordinary cards, the two bottom rows are the double-faced cards. They overlap a little so that they can be picked up quickly. The performer takes off the two top rows, which the spectator puts into a faced packet and then winds the center part of the ribbon round it. The two ends of the ribbon are handed to the two ladies. He takes the two remaining rows from the easel and secretly turns them over in getting the tray, thus bringing the duplicates of the cards wrapped in ribbon into view. Each lady in turn is asked to merely think of one of these cards. He gathers up the cards, has each lady hold them to her end of the ribbon and as the cards are named he secretly turns the packet again. Naturally the two cards are no longer to be seen. Since duplicates of these cards have been in the packet wrapped in the ribbon all the time, the spectator on the stage finds them and the trick is brought to a successful end. In the meantime the performer has had ample opportunity to drop the double-faced cards into his pocket and bring out the twenty-six cards necessary to make up a complete pack. This he hands to the spectator for inspection.
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