This is of the nature of a magical toy rather than a conjuring trick
proper, but its exhibition may form a pleasant interlude in the course
of a social entertainment. I invented it at an early stage of my magical
career, and exhibited it on various occasions for the amusement of
friends, but made no further use of it. The apparatus has been put aside,
and has been out of sight, out of mind, for many years past. Coming
across it accidentally some short time ago, I was agreeably surprised to
find that it would still answer questions as promptly, and doubtless as
truthfully, as of yore.
[Illustration: FIG. 24]
The general appearance of the apparatus, which is eight inches high by
seven in outside diameter, is as depicted in Fig. 24. It consists of
a circular mahogany stand or base, resting on three small feet, and
surmounted by a glass dome _b_. This last is in fact a bell-glass, as
used by gardeners, and has at top the usual knob, whereby to lift it. To
this is attached a short loop of narrow ribbon. The glass dome does not
rest directly on the stand, its lower edge being encased in a mahogany
mount. From the centre of the stand rises a vertical pin, a quarter of an
inch in height, serving as pivot for a metal pointer (Fig. 25), which,
by means of a little cup, or socket, at its centre, can be lifted on
and off, and revolves freely upon it, after the manner of a compass. A
further item of the apparatus is a reversible cardboard dial, whose two
sides, front and back, are depicted in Figs. 26 and 27. It will be seen
that the circumference of this dial is divided on the one side (Fig. 26)
into four equal sections, each bearing a pip of one of the four suits.
The other side (Fig. 27) is divided into eight sections, marked with the
numerals, from seven to ten inclusive, and the letters A, K, Q, and J,
answering to Ace, King, Queen and Jack.
[Illustration: FIG. 26 FIG. 25 FIG. 27]
With the Oracle is used a set of eight questions, and a piquet pack of
cards, on the backs of which are written or printed thirty-two answers
appropriate to such questions, one of each suit to each question. The
person consulting the Oracle having selected the question he or she
desires to have answered, the dial is laid on the stand with the “suit”
or Fig. 26 side uppermost, and the pointer is placed in position on its
pivot. The querist is invited to breathe into the glass, which is then
lowered on to the stand. The pointer begins to move, and after a moment
or two of indecision, comes to rest opposite one or other of the four
suit-pips; we will suppose, for the sake of illustration, the diamond.
The glass is then lifted off, the dial reversed, the pointer replaced,
and the glass once more lowered on to the stand. Again the pointer moves,
and stops this time, we will say, at the number “seven.” The seven of
diamonds is sought for in the pack, and is found to bear a more or less
appropriate answer to the question asked.
The movements of the pointer are governed by the fact that, imbedded in
the mahogany mount surrounding the base of the bell glass, is a piece
of thick steel wire, strongly magnetised, and extending half way round
the circle. The pointer, though so coloured as to have the appearance of
brass, is in reality a magnetic steel needle, and therefore when resting
on the pivot and covered by the glass, will automatically move round till
it comes to rest between the two magnetic poles formed to the opposite
ends of the hidden wire. The operator can therefore, by placing the glass
cover accordingly, cause the indicator to stop at any part of the dial
that he pleases.
It remains to be explained what guides him in the manipulation of the
glass, so as to cause the needle to stop at the point he desires. It will
be remembered that, attached to the knob at the top of the glass, is a
loop of ribbon, serving to suspend the glass in use from the forefinger,
as shown in Fig. 28. But the loop has in truth a much more important
function than this. Before the loop is formed, the ribbon is tied tightly
round the neck of the knob, previously waxed to prevent its slipping
round, and the knot is so placed that it shall exactly correspond with
that pole of the magnet to which the point of the needle is intended to
be in use attracted. This done, a loop is formed with the two ends of
the ribbon, and so arranged in point of length that when the glass is
suspended from the forefinger, as in the diagram, the thumb and second
finger of the operator shall be just right for moving it round in either
direction, the little knot guiding him by feel to bring it to the desired
point.
[Illustration: FIG. 28]
The exhibitor is not limited to any particular set of questions and
answers. At the cost of a fresh pack of cards and a little ingenuity,
he can please himself in this particular. The selection of suitable
questions and answers is however a somewhat delicate matter. The answers
must on the one hand be smart enough to afford amusement to the company
generally; and on the other hand must not be so pungent as to be likely
to cause offence to a person putting the question.
The questions and answers I devised for my own use ran somewhat as
follows:
1. What does my husband (or wife, as the case may be) most think
about?
ANSWERS
_Seven_ of _Diamonds_. Yourself.
” _Hearts_. Money.
” _Spades_. Dinnertime.
” _Clubs_. Golf.