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THE
JUGGLER’S ORACLE;
OR,
THE WHOLE ART
OF
Legerdemain Laid Open:
CONSISTING OF
_ALL THE NEWEST AND MOST SURPRISING_
TRICKS AND EXPERIMENTS,
WITH
CARDS,
CUPS AND BALLS,
CONVEYANCE OF MONEY AND RINGS,
BOXES,
FIRE,
STRINGS AND KNOTS;
WITH
MANY CURIOUS EXPERIMENTS
_By Optical Illusion, Chymical Changes, and
Magical Cards, &c._
THE WHOLE
Illustrated by upwards of Forty Wood Engravings.
BY THE SIEUR H. BOAZ,
THIRTY YEARS PROFESSOR OF THE ART.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR WILLIAM COLE,
10, NEWGATE STREET.
PRINTED BY G. H. DAVIDSON,
IRELAND YARD, DOCTORS’ COMMONS.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Description of the Operator 1
TRICKS WITH CARDS.
1. To deliver Four Aces, and to convert them into Knaves 2
2. Method of making the Pass 3
3. The Card of Divination 4
Another Way 5
4. The Four Confederate Cards 5
5. The Fifteen Thousand Livres 5
6. The Magic Ring 7
7. The Card in the Mirror 8
8. The Marvellous Vase 9
9. The Nerve Trick 10
10. To make the Constable catch the Knave 11
11. To change a Card into a King or Queen 11
12. To tell a Person what Card he took Notice of 12
13. To tell what Card is at the Bottom, when the Pack is shuffled 12
14. Another Way, not having seen the Cards 12
15. To tell, without Confederacy, what Card one thinks of 13
16. To make a Card jump out of the Pack, and run on the Table 13
17. To tell a Card, and to convey the Same into a Nut or
Cherry-Stone 13
18. To let Twenty Gentlemen draw Twenty Cards, and to make
one Card every Man’s Card 13
19. To transform the Four Kings into Aces, and afterwards to
render them all Blank Cards 13
20. To name all the Cards in the Pack, and yet never see them 15
21. To show any one what Card he takes Notice of 15
22. To tell the Number of Spots on the Bottom Cards, laid
down in several Heaps 16
23. To make any two Cards come together which may be named 17
24. Card nailed to the Wall by a Pistol-shot 17
25. To tell what Card one thinks of 19
26. Another Way 19
27. To make a Card jump out of an Egg 20
28. The Little Sportsman 20
CUPS AND BALLS.
29. To pass the Balls through the Cups 22
30. A still more Extraordinary Mode of Playing at Cups and
Balls 26
CONVEYANCE OF MONEY, &c.
31. To convey Money from one Hand to the other 28
32. To convert Money into Counters, and the Reverse 28
33. To put a Sixpence into each Hand, and, with Words, bring
them together 29
34. To put a Sixpence into a Stranger’s Hand, and another into
your own, and to convey both into the Stranger’s Hand
with Words 29
35. To show the same Feat otherwise 29
36. To throw a Piece of Money away, and find it again 30
37. To make a Sixpence leap out of a Pot or to run along a
Table 30
38. To make a Sixpence sink through a Table, and to vanish out
of a Handkerchief 30
39. To know if a Coin be a Head or Woman, and the Party to
stand in another Room 31
40. To command Seven Halfpence through the Table 31
41. To command a Sixpence out of a Box 32
42. To blow a Sixpence out of another Man’s Hand 32
43. To make a Ring shift from one Hand to another, and to make
it go on whatever Finger is required, while Somebody
holds both Arms 33
44. To transfer a Counter into a Silver Groat 34
45. To make a Silver Twopence be plain in the Palm of your
Hand, and be passed from thence wherever you like 35
46. To convey a Sixpence out of the Hand of one that holds it
fast 35
47. To convey a Shilling from one Hand into another, holding
your Hands apart 36
48. To transform any small Thing into any other Form, by folding
of Paper 36
49. Another Trick of the same Nature 36
50. A Watch recovered after being beaten to Pieces in a Mortar 37
TRICKS WITH BOXES, &c.
51. The Egg-Box 38
52. The Penetrative Guinea 39
53. The Chest which opens at Command 40
54. The Melting-Box 41
55. Trick upon the Globe-Box 42
56. Trick with the Funnel 44
57. The Magical Bell and Bushel 44
58. Out of an Empty Bag to bring upwards of an Hundred
Eggs; and, afterwards, a living Fowl 45
59. Bonus Genius; or, Hiccius Doctius 46
60. To make a Knife leap out of a Pot 47
61. To turn a Box of Bird-seed into a living Bird 47
EXPERIMENTS WITH FIRE.
62. To produce a Carmine Red Flame 48
63. An Orange-coloured Flame 48
64. To make Balloons with Soap and Water that catch Fire and
detonate 48
65. A Brilliant Blue Flame 49
66. An Emerald Green Flame 49
67. Loud Detonations, like the Discharge of Artillery 49
68. A Well of Fire 50
69. To make a Room seem all on Fire 50
70. To walk on a Hot Iron Bar, without Danger of Burning 50
71. To eat Fire, and blow it up in your Mouth with a Pair of
Bellows 50
72. To Light a Candle by a Glass of Water 52
73. Fulminating Powder 52
74. To set Fire to a Combustible Body by the Reflection of Two
Concave Mirrors 52
75. To give the Faces of the Company the Appearance of Death 53
76. To dispose two Little Figures, so that one shall light a
Candle, and the other put it out 53
77. To construct a Lantern which will enable a Person to read
by Night, at a great Distance 53
TRICKS WITH STRINGS, KNOTS, &c.
78. To cut a Lace asunder in the Middle, and to make it Whole
again 54
79. To burn a Thread and make it Whole again with the Ashes 54
80. To pull many Yards of Ribbon out of the Mouth 55
81. To cut a Piece of Tape into Four Parts, and make it Whole
again with Words 55
82. To unloose a Knot upon a Handkerchief, by Words 57
83. To draw a Cord through the Nose 58
84. To take Three Button-Moulds off a String 59
OPTICAL ILLUSIONS.
85. The Multiplying Mirror 60
86. The Magic-Lantern 61
87. The Phantascope 61
88. The Enchanted Mirrors 63
89. The Wonderful Phantoms 64
90. The Real Apparition 65
91. To draw a Deformed Figure, which will appear well proportioned
from a certain Point of View 67
CHEMICAL CHANGES.
92. To change the Colour of a Rose 67
93. To turn Water into Wine 67
94. Arbor Dianæ; or, the Silver Tree 68
95. The Lead Tree 68
96. The Tree of Mars 68
97. To form a Metallic Tree, in the Shape of a Fir 69
98. To make a Gold or Silver Tree, to serve as a Chimney
Ornament 69
99. Sympathetic or Secret Inks 70
100. Preparation of Green Sympathetic Ink 70
101. Blue Sympathetic Ink 70
102. Yellow Sympathetic Ink 71
103. Purple Sympathetic Ink 71
104. Rose-coloured Sympathetic Ink 71
105. Application of the Secret Inks 71
106. A Drawing which alternately represents Winter and Summer
Scenes 71
107. Demonstration of the various Strata of Earth which cover
the Globe 72
108. To freeze Water in the Midst of Summer, without the
Application of Ice 72
MISCELLANEOUS TRICKS AND EXPERIMENTS.
109. To swallow a long Pudding made of Tin 73
110. An artificial Spider 74
111. To pass a Ring through your Cheek 74
112. To cut a Hole in a Cloak, Scarf, or Handkerchief, and by
Words to make it Whole again 75
113. The Dancing Egg 75
114. To make three Figures Dance in a Glass 76
115. To shoot a Swallow, and to bring him to Life again 77
116. Singular Trick with a Fowl 77
117. To put a Lock upon a Man’s Mouth 77
118. To thrust a Bodkin into the Forehead, without Hurt 79
119. To thrust a Bodkin through your Tongue 79
120. To appear to cut your Arm off, without any Hurt or Danger 80
121. Tricks with a Cat 80
122. To make a Calf’s Head bellow, when served up to Table 81
123. To make a Ball rise above the Water 81
124. Mode of sealing Letters, whereby the Impression cannot be
taken 81
125. The Enchanted Egg 82
126. To cut a Man’s Head off, and to put the Head into a Platter,
a Yard from the Body 82
127. To cause Beer to be wrung out of the Handle of a Knife 83
128. To cut a Glass by Heat 84
THE
JUGGLER’S ORACLE.
LEGERDEMAIN, OR SLEIGHT-OF-HAND,
Is an art whereby a person seems to work wonderful, incredible, and
almost impossible feats. There is no supernatural or infernal agency
in the case; for every trick is performed by nimbleness, agility, and
effrontery.
_The Operator._
The Operator, or Conjurer, should be a person of bold and undaunted
resolution, so as to set a good face upon the matter, in case of the
occurrence of any mistake whereby a discovery of the nature of the
trick in hand may take place by one of the spectators.
He ought to have a great variety of strange terms and high-sounding
words at command, so as to grace his actions, amaze the beholders, and
draw their attention from the more minute operations.
He ought likewise to use such gestures of body as may help to draw off
the attention of the spectators from a strict scrutiny of his actions.
In showing feats and juggling with cards, the principal point consists
in the shuffling them nimbly, and always keeping one card either at
the bottom or in some known place of the pack, four or five cards from
it; hereby you will seem to work wonders, for it will be easy for you
to see one card, which, though you be perceived to do it, will not be
suspected, if you shuffle them well afterwards; and this caution I must
give you, that, in reserving the bottom card, you must always, whilst
you shuffle, keep it a little before or a little behind all the cards
lying underneath it, bestowing it either a little beyond its fellows
before, right over the fore-finger, or else behind the rest, so as the
little finger of the left hand may meet with it, which is the easier,
readier, and better way. In the beginning of your shuffling, shuffle
as thick as you can, and, in the end, throw upon the pack the nether
card, with so many more, at the least, as you would have preserved for
any purpose, a little before or a little behind the rest, provided
always that your fore-finger (if the pack lie behind) creep up to meet
with the bottom card; and, when you feel it, you may then hold it until
you have shuffled over the cards again, still leaving your _kept card_
below. Being perfect herein, you may do almost what you like with cards
by this means: what pack soever you use, though it consist of eight,
twelve, or twenty cards, you may keep them still together unsevered,
next to the card, and yet shuffle them often, to satisfy the admiring
beholders. As for example, and for brevity sake, to show divers feats
under one:--
_To deliver Four Aces, and to convert them into Knaves._
Make a pack of these eight cards, viz. four knaves and four aces;
and, although the eight cards must be immediately together, yet must
each knave and ace be evenly set together, and the same eight cards
must lie also in the lowest place of the pack; then shuffle them so
always, at the second shuffling; so that, at the end of shuffling the
said pack, one ace may lie undermost, or so as you may know where it
goeth and lieth always: I say, let your aforesaid pack, with three or
four cards more, lie inseparable together, immediately upon and with
that ace. Then using some speech or other device, and putting your
hands, with the cards, to the edge of the table, to hide the action,
let out, privately, a piece of the second card, which is one of the
knaves, holding forth the pack in both your hands, and showing to the
standers-by the nether card, which is the ace, or kept card, covering
also the head or piece of the knave, which is the next card, and, with
your fore-finger, draw out the same knave, laying it down on the table;
then shuffle them again, keeping your pack whole, and so have your two
aces lying together at the bottom. And, to reform that disordered card,
and also to grace and countenance that action, take off the uppermost
card of the bunch, and thrust it into the midst of the cards, and
then take away the nethermost card, which is one of your said aces,
and bestow it likewise; then you may begin as before, showing another
ace, and instead thereof lay down another knave, and so forth, until,
instead of four aces, you have laid down four knaves; the spectators,
all this while, thinking that four aces lie on the table, are greatly
amused, and will wonder at the transformation. You must be well
practised in shuffling the pack, lest you overshoot yourself.
TRICKS WITH CARDS.
_Method of making the Pass._
This art consists in bringing a certain number of cards from the bottom
of the pack to the top. I shall explain the method of doing it, before
proceeding further, as many of the following recreations depend on the
dexterous performance of this manœuvre. Hold the pack of cards in your
right hand, so that the palm of your hand may be under the cards. Place
the thumb of that hand on one side of the pack, the first, second, and
third fingers on the other side, and your little finger between those
cards that are to be brought to the top, and the rest of the pack. Then
place your left hand over the cards, in such a manner that the thumb
may be at C, and the fingers at B, according to the following figures:--
[Illustration:
B
+---------------+ +-----+
| Bottom. | | Top |
| 2 | | |
| Thumb | | |
| 3 | | |
| | | |
| 4 | | |
| Little finger | | |
+---------------+ +-----+
C
]
The hands and the two parts of the cards being thus disposed, you draw
off the lower cards, confined by the little finger and the other parts
of the right hand, and place them, with an imperceptible motion, on
the top of the pack. It is necessary, before you attempt any of the
recreations that depend on making the pass, that you can perform it so
dexterously that the eye cannot distinguish the motion of your hand;
otherwise, instead of deceiving others, you will expose yourself. It
is also proper that the cards make no noise, as that will occasion
suspicion. This dexterity is not to be attained without some practice.
It is sometimes usual to prepare a pack of cards, by inserting one or
more that are a small matter longer or wider than the rest; and that
preparation will be necessary in some of the following recreations.
_The Card of Divination._
Have a pack in which there is a longer card than the rest; open the
pack at that part where the long card is, and present the pack to a
person in such a manner that he will naturally draw that card. He is
then to put it into any part of the pack, and shuffle the cards. You
take the pack and offer the same card in like manner to a second or
third person; observing, however, that they do not stand near enough
to observe the card each other draws. You then draw several cards
yourself, among which is the long card; and ask each of the parties if
his card be among those cards, and he will naturally say yes, as they
have all drawn the same card. You then shuffle all the cards together,
and, cutting them at the long card, you hold it before the first
person, so that the others may not see it, and tell him that is his
card. You then put it again in the pack, and, shuffling them a second
time, you cut again at the same card, and hold it in like manner to the
second person; and so of the rest.
If the first person should not draw the long card, each of the parties
must draw different cards; when, cutting the pack at the long card, you
put those they have drawn over it, and, seeming to shuffle the cards
indiscriminately, you cut them again at the long card, and show one
of them his card. You then shuffle and cut again, in the same manner,
and show another person his card, and so on; remembering that the card
drawn by the last person is the first next the long card; and so of the
others.
_Another Way._
This recreation may be performed without the long card, in the
following manner: let a person draw any card whatever, and replace it
in the pack; you then make the pass, and bring that card to the top of
the pack, and shuffle them without losing sight of that card. You then
offer that card to a second person, that he may draw it, and put it
in the middle of the pack. You make the pass, and shuffle the cards a
second time, in the same manner, and offer the card to a third person;
and so again to a fourth or fifth.
_The Four Confederate Cards._
You let a person draw any four cards from the pack, and tell him
to think of one of them. When he returns you the four cards, you
dexterously place two of them under the pack, and two on the top. Under
those at the bottom you place four cards of any sort, and then, taking
eight or ten from the bottom cards, you spread them on the table, and
ask the person if the card he fixed on be among them. If he say no, you
are sure it is one of the two cards on the top. You then pass those
two cards to the bottom, and, drawing off the lowest of them, you ask
if that is not his card. If he again say no, you take that card up,
and bid him draw his card from the bottom of the pack. If the person
says his card is among those you first drew from the bottom, you must
dexterously take up the four cards that you put under them, and,
placing those on the top, let the other two be the bottom cards of the
pack, which you are to draw in the manner before described.
_The Fifteen Thousand Livres._
You must be prepared with two cards like the following:--
[Illustration]
and with a common ace and five of diamonds. The five of diamonds, and
the two prepared cards, are to be disposed thus:--
[Illustration]
and, holding them in your hand, you say,--“A certain Frenchman left
fifteen thousand livres, which are represented by these three cards, to
his three sons; the two youngest agreed to leave their 5000, each of
them, in the hands of the elder, that he might improve it.” While you
are telling this story, you lay the five on the table, and put the ace
in its place, and at the same time artfully change the position of the
other two cards, that the three cards may appear as in the following
figure:--
[Illustration]
You then resume your discourse. “The eldest brother, instead of
improving the money, lost it all by gaming, except three thousand
livres, as you here see.” You then lay the ace on the table, and,
taking up the five, continue your story. “The eldest, sorry for having
lost the money, went to the East Indies with these 3000, and brought
back 15,000.” You then show the cards in the same position as at
first. To render this deception agreeable, it must be performed with
dexterity, and should not be repeated, but the cards immediately put in
the pocket; and you should have five common cards in your pocket, ready
to show, if any one should desire to see them. Another recreation of
this sort may be performed with fives and threes, as follows:--
[Illustration]
_The Magic Ring._
Make a ring large enough to go on the second or third finger, in which
let there be set a large transparent stone, to the bottom of which must
be fixed a small piece of black silk, that may be either drawn aside or
expanded by turning the stone round. Under the silk is to be the figure
of a small card. Then make a person draw the same sort of card as
that at the bottom of the ring, and tell him to burn it in the candle.
Having first shown him the ring, you take part of the burnt card, and,
reducing it to powder, you rub the stone with it; and, at the same
time, turn it artfully round, so that the small card at bottom may come
in view.
_The Card in the Mirror._
Provide a mirror, either round, like the following figure,
[Illustration]
or oval; the frame of which must be at least as wide as a card. The
glass in the centre must be made to move in the two grooves, C D and
E F; and so much of the silvering must be scraped off as is equal
to the size of a common card. Observe that the glass be likewise
wider than the width of the card. Then paste over the part where the
quicksilver is rubbed off a piece of pasteboard, on which affix a card
that exactly fits the space, which must at first be placed behind the
frame. This mirror must be placed against a partition, through which
are to go two strings, by which an assistant in the adjoining room can
easily move the glass in the grooves, and consequently make the card
appear or disappear at pleasure.
Matters being thus prepared, you contrive to make a person draw the
same sort of card with that fixed to the mirror, and place it in the
middle of the pack: you then make the pass, and bring it to the bottom:
you then direct the person to look for his card in the mirror, when
the confederate, behind the partition, is to draw it slowly forward,
and it will appear as if placed between the glass and the quicksilver.
While the glass is being drawn forward, you slide off the card from the
bottom of the pack, and convey it away. The card fixed to the mirror
may easily be changed each time the experiment is performed. This
recreation may also be made with a print that has a glass before it,
and a frame of sufficient width, by making a slit in the frame, through
which the card is to pass; but the effect will not be so striking as in
the mirror.
_The Marvellous Vase._
Place a vase of wood or pasteboard, like the following:--
A B, on a bracket L, to the partition M.
[Illustration]
Let the inside of this vase be divided into five parts,
_c, d, e, f, g_; and let the divisions _c_ and _d_ be wide enough to
admit a pack of cards, and those of _e, f, g_, one card only. Fix
a thread of silk at the point H, the end of which, passing down the
division _d_, and over the pulley I, runs along the bracket L, and
goes out behind the partition M. Take three cards from a piquet pack,
and place one of them in each of the divisions, _e, f, g_, making the
silk thread or line go under each of them. In the division _c_ put the
pack of cards, from which you have taken the three cards that are in
the other divisions. Then take another pack of cards, at the bottom of
which are to be three cards of the same sort with those in the three
small divisions, and, making the pass, bring them to the middle of the
pack, and let them be drawn by three different persons. Then give them
all the cards to shuffle, after which place the pack in the division
_d_, and tell the parties they shall see the three cards they drew
come, at their command, separately out of the vase. An assistant behind
the partition then drawing the line with a gentle and equal motion, the
three cards will gradually rise out of the vase. Then take the cards
out of the division _c_, and show that those three cards are gone from
the pack. The vase must be placed so high that the inside cannot be
seen by the company. You may perform this recreation also without an
assistant, by fixing a weight to the end of the silk line, which is to
be placed on a support, and let down at pleasure, by means of a spring
in the partition.
_The Nerve Trick._
Having previously looked at a card, bid the person draw one, taking
care to show him that which you know; when he has it, let him put it at
the bottom; let him shuffle the cards, then look at them again, and,
finding the card, place it at the bottom; then cut them in half; give
the party that half which contains his chosen card at the bottom, to
hold between his finger and thumb, just at the corner; bid him pinch
them as tight as he can; then striking them pretty sharply, they will
all fall to the ground, except the bottom one, which is the card he has
chosen. This is a very curious trick, and, if cleanly done, is really
astonishing. It may be accounted for from the nature of the nerves,
which are always more retentive when any thing is attempted to be
taken, either by force or surprise.
_To make the Constable catch the Knave._
Take a pack of cards, and look out the four knaves; lay one of them
privately on the top of the pack, and the other three down upon the
table, saying, “_Here, you see, are three knaves got together, about no
good you may be sure_;” then lay down a king beside them, saying, “But
here comes the constable and catches them together: ‘_Oh, says he, have
I caught you? Well, the next time I catch you together, I’ll punish
you severely for all your rogueries._’ ‘_Oh_,’ but say they, ‘_you
shan’t catch us again together in haste_;’ so they conclude to run
three several ways. ‘_Well, I’ll go here_,’ says one (so take one of
the knaves, and put him at the top of the pack). ‘_And I’ll go here_,’
says another (so put him at the bottom). ‘_Then I’ll go here_,’ says a
third (so put him in the middle). ‘_Nay_,’ says the constable, ‘_if you
run, I’ll make sure of one; so I’ll follow the first_.’” Then take the
king and put him at the top, and let any one cut the cards asunder two
or three times; then deal, cut the cards one by one, and you shall find
three together, and the constable with them.
_Note._--This feat would be best done with a pack of cards that has two
knaves of that sort which you put in the middle.
_To change a Card into a King or Queen._
To do this, you must have the picture in your sleeve, and, by a swift
sleight, return the card, and fetch out the picture with a back
bending. The manner of doing this is better learnt by frequent trials
than can be taught by many words. But, if you would do this feat, and
yet hold your hand straight and unmoved, then you must peel off the
spots or figure of a card, as thin as you can, and just fasten it on
the picture with something that will make it stick a little; then,
having shown the spots or figure of the card, you may draw it off,
and roll it up with your thumb into a very narrow compass, holding it
undiscovered, between the inside of the thumb and the ball of your
fore-finger; and so produce the picture, to the admiration of the
beholders.
_To tell a Person what Card he took Notice of._
Take any number of cards, as ten, twelve, and then, holding them with
their backs towards you, open four or five of the uppermost, and,
as you hold them out to view, let any one note a card, and tell you
whether it be the first, second, or third from the top; but you must
privately know the whole number of those cards you took. Now shut
up your cards in your hands, and take the rest of the pack, which
place upon them; then knock their ends and sides upon the table; so
it will seem impossible to find the noted card, yet it may easily be
done, thus: subtract the number of cards you held in your hand from
fifty-two, the whole number in the pack, and to the remainder add the
number of the noted card; so the same shall be the number of the noted
card from the top; therefore take off the cards one by one, smelling to
them till you come to the noted card.
_To tell what Card is at the Bottom, when the Pack is shuffled._
When you have seen a card privately, or as though you marked it not,
lay the same undermost, and shuffle the cards till your card be again
at the bottom. Then show the same to the bystanders, bidding them
remember it. Now shuffle the cards, or let any other shuffle them, for
you know the card already, and therefore may, at any time, tell them
what card they saw, which, nevertheless, must be done with caution or
show of difficulty.
_Another Way, not having seen the Cards._
If you can see no card, or be suspected to have seen that which you
mean to show, then let a bystander shuffle, and afterwards take the
cards into your own hands, and, having shown them, and not seen the
bottom card, shuffle again, and keep the same cards as before you are
taught; and either make shift then to see it when their suspicion is
past, which may be done by letting some cards fall, or else lay down
all the cards in heaps, remembering where you laid the bottom card;
then see how many cards lie in some one heap, and lay the flap where
your bottom card is upon that heap, and all the other heaps upon the
same; and so, if there were five cards in the heap whereon you laid
your card, then the same must be the sixth card, which now you must
throw out, or look upon with suspicion, and tell them the card they saw.
_To tell, without Confederacy, what Card one thinks of._
Lay three cards at a distance, and bid a bystander be true, and
not waver, but think on one of the three, and by his eye you shall
assuredly perceive which he thinks on; and you shall do the like if you
cast down a whole pack of cards with the faces upwards, whereof there
will be few, or none plainly perceived, and they also court cards; but
as you cast them down suddenly, so must you take them up presently,
marking both his eyes and the card whereon he looks.
_To make a Card jump out of the Pack, and run on the Table._
Take a pack of cards, and let any one draw a card that he likes best,
and afterwards take and put it into the pack, but so as you know where
to find it at pleasure. Then take a piece of wax, and put it under the
thumb-nail of your right hand, and thus fasten a hair to your thumb,
and the other end of the hair to the card. Now spread the pack of cards
open upon the table, and, making use of any technical words or charms,
seem to make it jump on the table.
_To tell a Card, and to convey the Same into a Nut, or Cherry-Stone._
Take a nut or cherry-stone, and burn a hole through the side of the
top of the shell, and also through the kernel, if you will, with a
hot bodkin, or bore it with an awl, and with a needle pull out the
kernel, so as the same may be as wide as the hole of the shell; then
write the name of the card on a piece of fine paper, and roll it up
hard. Put it into the nut or cherry-stone, and stop the hole up with a
little wax, and rub the same over with a little dust, and it will not
be perceived; then let some bystander draw a card, saying, “_It is no
matter what card you draw_,” and, if your hands so serve you to use the
cards well, you shall proffer him, and he shall receive, the same card
that you have rolled the name of up in the nut. Now take another nut
and fill it up with ink, and stop the hole up with wax, and then give
that nut which is filled with ink to some boy to crack, and, when he
finds the ink come out of his mouth, it will cause great laughter. Many
other feats of this kind may be done, so as to keep the company in good
humour.
_To let Twenty Gentlemen draw Twenty Cards, and to make one Card every
Man’s Card._
Take a pack of cards and let any gentleman draw one; then let him put
it into the pack again, but be sure where to find it again at pleasure;
then shuffle the cards again, and let another gentleman draw a card;
but be sure that you let him draw no other than the same card as the
other drew, and so do for ten or twelve, or as many cards as you think
fit; when you have so done, let another gentleman draw another card,
but not the same, and put that card into the pack where you have kept
the other one, and shuffle them till you have brought both the cards
together; then showing the last card to the company, the other will be
considered a more wonderful achievement.
_To transform the Four Kings into Aces, and afterwards to render them
all Blank Cards._
A clever juggler will take four kings in his hand, and apparently show
them to the bystanders, and then, after some words and charms, he will
throw them down upon the table, taking one of the kings away, and
adding but one other card; then taking them up again, and blowing upon
them, he will show you them transformed into blank cards, white on both
sides; then throwing them down as before, with their faces downwards,
he will take them up again, and, blowing upon them, will show you four
aces.
This trick is not inferior to any that is performed with cards, and yet
is very pretty.
To perform it, you must have cards made for the purpose, _half cards_
we may call them; that is, one half kings and the other half aces; so,
laying the aces one over the other, nothing but the king will be seen,
and then, turning the kings downwards, the four aces will be seen; but
you must have two whole cards, one a king to cover one of the aces, or
else it will be perceived, and the other an ace to lay over the kings,
when you mean to show the aces; then, when you would make them all
blank, lay the cards a little lower, and hide the aces, and they will
appear all white. The like you may make of four knaves, putting upon
them the four fives; and so of the other cards.
_To name all the Cards in the Pack, and yet never see them._
To do this, you must privately drop a little water or beer, about the
size of a crown-piece, upon the table before which you sit; then rest
your elbows upon the table, so that the cuffs of your sleeves may meet,
and your hands stick up to the brims of your hat; in this posture
your arms will hide the drop of water from the company; then let any
one take the cards and shuffle them, and put them into your hands;
also let him set a candle before you, for this trick is best done by
candlelight. Then holding the cards in your left hand, above the brim
of your hat, close up to your head, so that the light of the candle may
shine upon the cards, and holding your head down, so in the drop of
water, like a looking-glass, you shall see the shadow of all the cards
before you. Now draw the finger of your right hand along upon the card,
as if you were feeling it, and then lay it down. Thus you may lay down
all the cards in the pack, one by one, naming them before you lay them
down, which will seem very strange to the beholders, who will think
that you have _felt them_ out.
_To show any one what Card he takes Notice of._
Let any one take a card out of the pack, and note it; then take part of
the pack in your hand, and lay the rest down upon the table, bidding
him lay his noted card upon them; then, turning your back towards the
company, make as though you were looking over the cards in your hand,
and put any card at the fore-side; and, whilst your are doing this
privately, wait till the cards are laid out in heaps, to find what the
bottom cards are. Bid any one take four cards of the same number, viz.
four aces, four deuces, four trèys, and any other number not exceeding
ten (for he must not take court cards), and lay them out; then take the
remaining cards, if any such there be, and divide their number by four,
and the quotient shall be the number of spots of the four cards; if
twelve cards remain, then on each bottom card are trèys, and, if there
be no remaining cards, then the four bottom cards are aces.
_To tell the Number of Spots on the Bottom Cards, laid down in several
Heaps._
Bid any one take the whole pack of cards in his hand, and, having
shuffled them, let him take off the upper card, and, having taken
notice of it, let him lay it down upon the table, with its face
downwards, and upon it let him lay so many cards as will make up the
number of spots on the noted card, _e. g._ twelve. If the card which
the person first took notice of was a king, queen, knave, or a single
ten, bid him lay down that card with its face downwards, calling
it ten; upon that card let him lay another, calling it eleven, and
upon that another, calling it twelve; then bid him take off the next
uppermost card, saying, “_What is it?_” Suppose it were a nine, laying
it down on another part of the table, and calling it nine, upon it let
him lay another, calling it ten; upon it another, calling it eleven;
and upon it another, calling it twelve; then let him look on the next
uppermost card: and so let him proceed to lay them out in a heap, in
all respects as before, till he has laid out the whole pack; but, if
there be any cards at the last (I mean if there be not enough to make
up the last noted card twelve), bid him give them to you; then, to
tell him the number of all the spots contained in all the bottom cards
of the heaps, do thus:--from the number of heaps subtract four, and
multiply the remainder by fifteen, and to the product add the number of
those remaining cards which he gave you, if any did remain; but, if
there were but four heaps, then those remaining cards alone show the
number of spots sought.
_Note._--You ought not to see the bottom cards of the heaps, nor should
you see them laid out, or know the number of cards in each heap;
it suffices if you know the number of heaps and the number of the
remaining cards, if any such there be: and therefore you may perform
this feat as well standing in another room as if you were present.--You
must have a whole pack.
_To make any two Cards come together which may be named._
When any one has named what two cards he would have come together, take
the cards and say, “_Let us see if they are here or not, and, if they
are, I’ll put them as far asunder as I can_;” then, having found the
two cards proposed, dispose them in the pack, and cause them to come
together.
This trick would seem much more strange, if, when you have brought the
proposed cards together, by laying them in heaps, you lay the heap
wherein the proposed cards are at the bottom of the pack, and then
shuffle the cards; cut them asunder somewhere in the middle; thus the
proposed cards will be found together in the middle of the pack, which
will seem very strange.
_Card nailed to the Wall by a Pistol-shot._
A card is desired to be drawn, and the person who chooses, is requested
to tear off a corner, and to keep it, that he may know the card; the
card so torn is then burnt to cinders, and a pistol discharged with
gunpowder, with which the ashes of the card are mixed. Instead of a
ball, a nail is put into the barrel, which is marked by some of the
company; the pack of cards is then thrown up in the air, the pistol
is fired, and the card appears _nailed_ against the wall. The bit of
the corner which was torn off is then compared with it, and is found
exactly to fit; and the nail which fastens it to the wall is recognised
by the persons who marked it.
_Explanation._--When the performer sees that a corner of the chosen
card has been torn off, he retires, and makes a similar tear on a like
card. Returning, he asks for the chosen card, and passing it to the
bottom of the pack, he substitutes expertly in its place the card which
he has prepared, which he burns instead of the first. When the pistol
is loaded, he takes it in his hand, under the pretence of showing how
to direct it, &c. He avails himself of this opportunity to open a hole
in the barrel, near the touchhole, through which the nail falls by its
own weight into his hand: having shut this passage, he requests one of
the company to put more powder and wadding into the pistol; whilst that
is doing, he carries the nail and card to his confederate, who quickly
nails the card to a piece of square wood, which stops a space left open
in the partition, but which is not perceived, as it is covered with a
piece of tapestry, similar to the rest of the room; and by which means,
when the nailed card is put on, it is not perceived; the piece of
tapestry which covers it is nicely fastened on the one end by two pins,
and on the other a thread is fastened, one end of which the confederate
holds in his hand. As soon as the report of the pistol is heard, the
confederate draws his thread, by which means the piece of tapestry
falls behind a glass; the card appears the same that was marked, and
with the nail that was put in the pistol. It is not astonishing that
the trick, being so difficult by its complexity to be guessed at,
should have received such universal applause.
N. B. After the pistol has been charged with powder, a tin tube may
be slipped upon the charge, into which the nail being rammed along
with the wadding, by inclining it a little, in presenting it to one
of the spectators to fire, the tube and contents will fall into the
performer’s hand, to convey to his confederate. If any one suspects
that the nail has been stolen out of the pistol, you persist in the
contrary, and beg the company at the next exhibition to be farther
convinced; you then are to show a pistol, which you take to pieces,
to show that all is fair, without any preparation; you charge it with
a nail, which is marked by some person in confederacy with you, or
you show it to many people, on purpose to avoid its being marked. In
this case the card is nailed with another nail; but, to persuade the
company that it is the same, you boldly assert that the nail was marked
by several persons, and you request the spectators to view it, and be
convinced.
_To tell what Card one thinks on._
Take twenty-one cards, and begin to lay them down three in a row, with
their faces upwards; then begin again at the left hand, and lay one
card upon the first, and so on the right hand, and then begin at the
left hand again, and so go on to the right; do this till you have laid
out the twenty-one cards in three heaps, but, as you are laying them
out, bid any one think of a card, and, when you have laid them all out,
ask him which heap his card is in; then lay that heap in the middle,
between the other two. Now lay them all out again into three heaps, as
before, and, as you lay them out, bid him take notice where his noted
card goes, and put that heap in the middle, as before. Then, taking the
cards with their backs towards you, take off the uppermost card, and,
smelling to it, reckon it one; then take off another, and, smelling to
it, reckon it two; this do till you come to the eleventh card, for that
will always be the noted card after the third time of laying them out,
though you should lay in this manner ever so often. You must never lay
out the cards less than three times, but as often above as you please.
This trick may be done by any odd number of cards that may be divided
by three.
_Another Way to tell what Card is noted._
When one has noted a card, take it and put it at the bottom of the
pack; then shuffle the cards till it comes again to the bottom; then
see what is the noted card, which you may do without being taken notice
of; when you have thus shuffled the cards, turn them with their faces
towards you, and knock their ends upon the table, as though you would
knock them level; and, whilst you are so doing, take notice of the
bottom card, which you may do without suspicion, especially having
shuffled them before; then, when you know the card, shuffle them again,
and give them to any of the company, and let them shuffle them, for
you know the card already, and may easily find it at any time.
_To make a Card jump out of an Egg._
To do this wonderful feat you must have two sticks, made both of one
size, so that no person can know one from another; one of these sticks
must be made so as to conceal a card in the middle, thus: you must have
one of your sticks turned hollow quite through, and then an artificial
spring to throw the card into the egg at pleasure. The operation is
thus:--Take and peel any card in the pack, which you please, and roll
it up. Now put it into the false stick, and there let it lie until you
have occasion to make use of it. Now take a pack of cards, and let any
body draw one; but be sure to let it be the same sort of card which you
have in the hollow stick. The person who has chosen it is now to put
it into the pack again, and, while you are shuffling them, let it fall
into your lap. Then, calling for some eggs, desire the person who drew
the card, or any other person in the company, to choose any one of the
eggs. When they have done so, ask the person if there be any thing in
it? He will answer that there is not. Now take the egg in your left
hand, and the hollow stick in your right, and then break the egg with
the stick.
[Illustration]
Having let the spring go, the card will appear in the egg, to the
great amazement of the beholders. Now be sure to conceal the hollow
stick, and produce the solid one, which place upon the table for the
examination of those who are curious.
_The Little Sportsman._
This is a little pasteboard figure which holds a bow, with an arrow,
which it shoots at the instant required, and hits a paper placed
opposite, on the top of a pedestal:
[Illustration]
This paper is divided into several squares, which are numbered, and the
arrow flies and always hits the number chosen by one of the company.
The action of the spring which impels it is restrained by a little pin,
which the confederate lets go at pleasure, by moving the levers hid
in the table; when you push this pin, the arrow flies with rapidity
to the paper, like the operation of a lock of a musket, when you pull
the trigger. In placing the automaton on the table, you may place it
in such a manner that the arrow be directed towards one of the circles
numbered on the paper. To cause that number to be chosen against which
the arrow is pointed, you must present to the spectator cards numbered,
and dexterously make him choose the number required, which depends on
peculiar address, that is scarcely possible to be described by words;
it may in general be said to come under the following heads:--First,
to put at the bottom one of the cards to be chosen; secondly, to keep
it always in the same place, although you mix, or pretend to mix, the
cards; thirdly, to pass the card to the middle, when you present the
pack; fourthly, to pass many cards before the hands of the spectator,
to persuade him that he may choose indifferently; fifthly, to pass
these same cards with such rapidity, that he cannot take any but the
card intended; sixthly, to slip complaisantly into his hand the card
you wish to be taken, at the very moment when, the better to deceive
him, you beg of him graciously to take which card he chooses.
CUPS AND BALLS.
_To pass the Balls through the Cups._
You must place yourself at the farther end of the table, and provide
three cups made of tin; you must likewise have your black magical
stick, to show your wonders withal. You are also to provide four small
cork balls, to play with; but do not let any more than three of them be
seen upon the table.
N. B.--Always conceal one ball in the right hand, between the middle
finger and the ring finger; and be sure you make yourself perfect to
hold it there, for by this means all the tricks of the cups are done.
Now say something to the following effect:--
Three cups, you see, have I got here,
’Tis true they are but tin;
Silver and gold are much too dear
For me to conjure in.
Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, here are no equivocations at all;
But, if your eyes are not as quick as my hands, I shall deceive you all.
View them well within,
View them all round about;
Where there’s nothing in,
There’s nothing can come out.
Then take your balls privately between your fingers, fling one of them
upon the table, and say thus--
The first trick that I learned to do
Was out of one ball to make two:
Ah! since it cannot better be,
Of these two I will soon make three,
Which is called the first trick of dexterity.
So then you have three balls on the table to play with, and one left
between the fingers of your right hand.
_The Position of the Cups is thus_--
[Illustration:
1 2 3
]
Lay your three balls upon the table; then say, “_Ladies and Gentlemen,
you see here are three balls, and here are three cups; that is, a cup
for each ball, and a ball for each cup._” Then taking the ball which
you have in your right hand (which you are always to keep private) and
clapping it under the first cup; and, taking up one of the three balls
with your right hand, seem to put it into your left hand, but retain
it still in your right, shutting your left hand in due time; then say,
“_Presto, begone._”
[Illustration]
Then taking the second cup up, say, “_Ladies and Gentlemen, you see
there is nothing under my cup_;” so clap the ball under that you
have in your right hand, and then take the second ball up with your
right hand, and seem to put it into your left, but retain it in your
right, shutting your left hand in due time, as before, saying, “_Vado,
begone._”
[Illustration]
Then taking the third cup up, saying, “_Ladies and Gentlemen, you see
there is nothing under my last cup_,” clap the ball under your right
hand, and, taking the third ball up with your right hand, seem to put
it into your left hand, but retain it in your right hand; so, shutting
your left hand in due time, as before, saying, “_Presto, make haste_”: so
you have your three balls come under your three cups, as thus, and so
lay your three cups down upon the table.
[Illustration]
Then with your right hand take up the first cup, and clap the ball
under that you have in your right hand; saying, “_Ladies and Gentlemen,
this being the first ball, I’ll put it in my pocket_;” but that you
must still keep in your right hand to play withal.
[Illustration]
So take up the second cup with your right hand, and clap that ball
under which you have concealed, and then take up the second ball with
your right hand, and say, “_This likewise I take and put into my
pocket._”
Likewise take up the third cup, and, clapping the cup down again,
convey the ball that you have in your right hand under the cup; then
take the third ball, and say, “_Ladies and Gentlemen, this being the
last ball, I take this and put it in my pocket._” Likewise then say to
the company, “_Ladies and Gentlemen, by a little of my fine powder of
experience I’ll command these balls under the cups again_,” as thus:--
[Illustration]
So lay them all along the table, to the admiration of the beholders.
Then take up the first cup, and, clapping the ball under that you have
in your right hand, and taking the first ball up with the right hand,
seem to put the same into your left hand, but retain it still in your
right hand; then say, “_Vado, quick, begone when I bid you, and run
under the cup._”
[Illustration]
Then taking that cup up again, and flinging it under that you have in
your right hand, you must take up the second ball, and seem to put it
into your left hand, but retain it in your right, saying, “_Ladies and
Gentlemen, see how the ball runs on the table._”--So, seeming to fling
it away, it will appear thus:--
[Illustration]