Screw a pack of cards up tightly in a vice, and shave the edges so as to
make the cards narrower at one end than at the other. You then arrange
these cards in such a manner that the broad ends of the black cards lie
all in one direction, and the broad ends of the red cards in the
contrary direction. Now let any of the company shuffle it and return it
to you. You then ask in which hand they wish the red, and in which the
black cards to appear. On receiving a reply, you grasp the pack firmly
at both ends, with both hands, and draw them apart, when you will have
in each hand those cards whose broad ends lay in its direction.
Sometimes you will have to draw the card several times before you can
get them entirely separated.
_Observe._—This recreation should not be repeated, unless you have
another pack of cards to adroitly substitute for the former, in which
you may separate the pictured cards from the others, they being prepared
for that purpose; which will afford a fresh surprise. You may also write
on a number of blank cards certain letters or words that form a
question, and on others the answer.