Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-03-29
The Trick with Cards.

performed without his giving us pretty well to
understand "that he knew how it was done"-
''can't fool mer' He was one of those self-o-
pinionated men upon whom the hardest kind of
alaugh can be raised. He was good hearted
fellow, but as rough-looking, tobacco-chewing,
a sea dog, as can be imagined. Alexander was
detailing to us some of his wonderful performan
ces, when he exclaimed-"Come in the cabin,
I'll show you something wonderful; here, cap
tain, come in, want to play you trickr'
Imagine Us all seated round the table. A
pack of cards is produced. ''Take acard, cap
tain--look at it-put it in the pack-shuffie
them-you are sure you put the card in the
packf'
''Yes, SIR
'Wel, take that book-place the cards on
it-take your handkerchief and place over both,
now you recollect your card. Il had seen it, it
was the DEUCE OF HEARTs.) You are sure the
card is there? | have not touched the pack, as
you know"
"Oh! yes, sir, KNOW the card is there
"Well, you are very much mistaken-the
card is in your state-room."
''ln my state'room. Oh, no sir, that cannot
ber'
The state-room door was closed at the time,
and Alexander had not moved from his seat
Of the card with establishment, and the captain
deemed it so utterly improbable, that at first he
declined going to look for it.
"Pease, captain, 90 look, assure you the
card is there"
We insisted upon his examining his room.
He got up, took the lamp, and for fear Alexan-
der should follow him, backed his way to the
door, opened and shut it rapidly.
"The card is not here"
81 assure you it is
" No. no." replied the captain, returning to
the cabin, "you have made greatmistake THIS
timer
"No, have not" replied Alexander, assum-
ing the important air of a magician, ''the card
is in vour state room-it is in that blue chest in
the corner, and if you will open it, pledge you
my life you will find it,
Ifhe had been informed that some rascal had
been in his house and robbed him of his wife.
greater CONSERVATION could not have been man.
ifested.
On, sir, there is no card in THAT blue chest !:
have the key of that in my pocket. and NO ONE
ever gets SIGHT Of it--THAT CHEST is sA-
CRED %
Be it understood, the captain had endcavored
to make himself out something of mysterious;
hocus-pocus character, and had given us to I'M
derstand, by various hints and inuendoes, that
the blue chest contained something slightly con-
nected with the land of spirits and by way of
confirming the belief, had produced most
heatherish pack of cards, filled with raw-head-
and bloody bone devices, daggers, &c., the
which being past our comprehension, we were
willing he should think we believed were con-
nected with his mysteries. To be told THAT
card was there, was rather too much, even if
Herr Alexander DID say so. He went, howev
er, shut the door, opened the chest, and said the
card was not there:
"Not there, captain? I'll bet basket OF
champagne you found it there"
The captain came out, and we all saw at
glance, from his pale countenance,h he had found
the card"
sConfess, captain"
With sigh he exclaimed" Well, gentle
men, DID find the card there, and threw 1t out
of the window; and I'll bed--d if mat man
is not the devil!r'
Maybe the cabin of the Ocean did not re
sound with laughter. All Joined but the cap
tain, who, to this day, feels annoyed, and would
give almost any thing to know how it was eff
fected.
The modus operandi of transferring the card
was of course beyond our view. If there had
been two packs ofcards having the same backs.
we might have supposed he had placed the card
there during the day; but it was the only pack
of the kind on board. Everything like mystic
nv is knocked out of the captaiI-he bows to a
superior genius, and in spite of those cards, he
will always look upon Alexander as little bet
ter than the devil.
The second trick of Alexander was still more
astounding than the first. In fact 1t knocks the
one of the blue chest into cooked hat. Our
worthy captain was again selected as the oper-
atee, and was forced to exclaim, "This DOES my
ewes SURPRISE A pack of cards, as usual, the
devil always uses cards-hope he'll never lea. 70
any visiting ones at my door, nor induce me Il
use any of his ''poker" pack,) was produced.
Now will show really wonderful trick
Captain, take card" The card is taken
was the ACE OF SPADES. Stake the pack, cap
tain-put your card in. and hold it tight, fast
Sure the card is thereT'
''Sure, s;r."
"Yes.r
",Vell, let me see-yes, will nail it. -
/, With this he taps his forefnger upon the tabl
and exclaims, '.rve nailed it."
'sNailed it! wheref'
s'The card will be found on top and nailed
the main royal mast headP'
"Ha! hal! hail! Now, Mr.. Alexander, it 70
expect me to believe THAT you're d-ly mis-
taken," exclaimed the captain.
"On top of the royal mast head!' exclaime
all.
.Yes, gentlemen, the card is there, as say
| will forfeit basket of champagne 1t it
not"
The captain sent for the mate. .'Send JAG
I'D to the main royal mast head and tell him
bring down any thing he may find nailed there
dyes, SIR"
We fresh water sailors felt some lite aiar'
at sending man to that dizzy height IN da'
night, but as the eaptun said, "Inerer send
man where would not 60 myself" we fe
I east. 1t must be confessed, if we had not sec
: IL I....o &C L.nrtc I'M tho hli1n chest coil