Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-10
THE WAY MAGIcIANs WORK.


THE WAY MAGICIANs WORK.
A correspondent of the Missouri Democrat
gives an interesting account of the system of
the questions and answers used by those in.
GENIUS operators, the presdigitateurs
Robert Heller is nightly astonishing hun
dreds OF our cltizens who are anA Iuus to pay
for the privilege OF being deceived The graf.
lied yisages OF his audience prove the truth of
the old couplet
In being cheated as to cheat"
In most OF his tricks the spectators know their
senses are deceived in fact, Heller tells them
so. But for his second sight" he claims pre-
emlnence and boldly deies the world to pro
duce an explanation. But for this yauning
challenge his Second sight" would have
seemed but another of his splendid receptions
Many people however, nous think there is
something unnatural in it that is "mystery"
and Robert Heller is possessed of supernatur.
al powers. As Mr.. Heller cannot rightfully
object, Will, with your kind permission, en-
deavor to show to our beiogged citizens that
the 'mystery' is not altogether inerpiicable
ln an old book in my possession find some
j.. hint, which, with development and obsorva-
ton On my part, remove all doubt from my
mind Heller or his interesting boy, Freddy, are
in league with "auld Hornie"
The system ofsecond sight is, though Heller
endeavorS to deny it, asystem of preconcerted
questions and answers.
The same questions differently arranged re-
quire different answers; thus
a. Cues. Is it ornamented or plain Ans.
Ornamented.
" =. Is 1t plain or Ornamented A. Plain.
There are questions relating to color, pre-.
cious stones, metals, wrapping apparel, Jewel
ry, etc. AS tor instance
Q. What color is it? a. Black.
Q. What is the color A. Blue.
Z, Tell me the color A Green.
Q. Has it color A White.
Q. Any color A. Orange or yellow.
Q. Name the color? A. Brown.
The following for metals
q. What metal 4. Gold.
Q. What is the metal? A. Silver.
@ Tell me the metal A. Copper.
O. Name the metal A. Iron or steel.
O. What metal is it Z? A. Brass.
And so on for the different articles mention
ed above. There is also list and very ex-
tensiVe one, for miscellaneous articles. A few
examples will suffice
Q. What have here A. A purse.
q. What is this A. A toothpick
Q. This will puzzle you! A. Courtplas
And so on almost indefinitely.
BY thus having questions and answers class
flied and arranged, an article of any kind can
be very accurately described, requiring gene
rally, however, combination OF the quest lions
of different classes, Thus
Q. Is this Tor any purpose A. OF course,
a reticule.
Q. What color is it? A. Black
(fakes an article out of the retcule and
asks y
Q. What have here A. A purse
z. Tell me the color ? A. Green.
(fakes money outl
q. What have | now A. Money.
q. l cannot hear you? A. Bank note.
Q. Ofwhat value is it ? a. Ten dollars.
Q. Is this the same A. No-a dime.
(Another article.
Q. Tell me now A. Keys.
(Anoihes.)
Answer Immediately A. A handkerchief.
Q. Has it a color? A. White
Thus the retcue and all its contents are des-
scrbed.
Describe piece of jewelry
9. DO you admire this Yes; a brooch,
g. DO you know the stone9 A. Yes
corneean.
Q. Has it color9 A. White
Mr.. Heller endeavors by various expedients
to conceal from his audience the fact that all
Freddy's answers are dependent upon the
questors asked. He sometimes asked no
questions ut all
The audience will observe that he does not
dispense with the question till Ered's back ia
turned, and he (Fred) within few feet of the
curtain. They will also observe that the things
Heller holds up are not the small ones concern.
ing which he had asked questions This time
they are tdrge-R hat, mutf, a shawl, a set of
turs, or something that can easily be seen by
person behind the curtain. who is so near TO
Fred as almost to be able to whisper in his
ears OF course Fred don't fail to give the
right name to the article.
To discourage the idea that the question
had anything to do with the answer, he says,
"Some persons think the last words Of the
questions l ask are the key to the reply we
will see"
Q-Do you admire this, say ?-(the last
word very emphaic). A brooch. Ali, say
means brooch; wen try again.
Q-What have | here, Say9 "A purse.
And SO on, always adding say and each
time receiving different answer Do not he
audience perceive that This word here used il
IKE The bind in tradesman's mark--it means
nothlngf DO they not also perceive that the
rest OF the question is varied his different arti.
Giles are presented? Not a bit of it. Poor
innocent souls, they paid their money to be
cheated, and they would feel they were sold"
If they discovered the secret.
And then when Fred is marched among the
audience and Heller stands near the stage, in.
dicating that an answer is required, by clap
ping OF the hands, how is it done viii MIR.
Heller then take whatever article is offered
him, No; he goes from one to another OF his
cont,derates, sitting near each other and re-.
Geives from them articles " ith the succession
of which Fred is beforehand acquainted of
course, at each clap OF the hands, Fred knows
what lie is TO cry out.
And again, without even word or clap of
the hand, or tinkling of bell, Fred tells what
al that instant Heller has laid his hand on.
Will the audience again notice that these are
articles which H. may touch without moving
around much lady's bonnet a gents coat,
bat, fan, &c. lhe order OF which known
beforehand), are touched at intervals during
which Fred may count, say twenty, and Fred
OF course tells lis wondering and open-mouth-
ed auditors what they are.