Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-01

Rlght away, Y, %.
Try, q, rs.
In its simplest form second sight can
easily be performed by the ait; of this cod e
after comparatively short study. For
instance n key is handed to the performer
who quickly begins to question the sub,
ject rs follows "WeLl (k) I've something
for you. Come (e) use your eyes RANT.
array (y),' the italicised words only being,
taken account of, and the answer of course
being readily forthcoming. This method,
however, would be too clumsy for pub
lie performer, and the chances of detec
ton would be too great were it constantly
used. Accordingly an arbitrary list OF
articles is prepared alphabetically arrang-
ed in groups of three, something after the
following fashion
Accordion, album, almanac.
Anchor, apple, apron.
3-Ball, banana, beads.
4-Bean, bell, belt.
Bill, bonnet, boot.
6-Bottle, smelling bottle, box
Matchbox, snutf-box, Jobacco-box.
S-Button, button-aook, sleeve-button.
9-Ctndy, cane, cap.
10-Card, card-case, chain
and so on until some 400 or 800 of the arti-
Giles most likely to be presented in mis-
cellaneouS assem- olage have been ludeXed,
as it We're, for the memory, The number
Is readily given by means of the question
code and the position of the article in the
triplet is fixed by the addition of some
arbitrary sign such snap of the tiugers or
an impatient Pm waiting" Suppose a
card-case be- offered. The performer sim
ply says "Here 90" with a snap of the
hngers and the answer comes at once, for
| it Is the second article of the tenth
/ triplet. Heller used still another system
at times which had its advantages He
arranged everything into combinations of
| Il after the following fashion, which in
III s instance applied to precious stones
| Look sharp-diamond !, C.
| | wish-tOpaZ, >, b,
| Here-emerald, 3, C.
Well-ruby, I, d.
| See-amethyst, ), 2.
| Very well-bloodstone. g. T.
And here-opal, :. g.
! Go ou-cameo, ;, h.
Look hero-,at's eye. Q, /.
| Be quick sapphire, O. J.
See here-onyX, Il, X.
| Now-carbuncle, i, |.
| How-pearl. y, III.
1t will be 5 ell that cue, such as the
SNAP OF the fingers alluded to above, Az
| piled to these queries could give them
another meaning as applied to the class
OF objects affixed to them and the remain
ing - letters of the alphabet also. In like
manner he formed a group of - materia s
as follows Stone, cloth, gum, putty
leather, cork. marble, glass, ore, ivory,
|
gold, silver, brass, nickel, steel, tin, lead
platinum, mercury, copper bronze, zinc
and iron. Designs such as would be found
on charms or seals were arranged in this
way Skull, head, musical Instrument
house, figure, insect, coin, star, mono
gram, three links, square and compass,
strap and buckle, and weapon. Heller
who, it must be allowed, elaborated the
entertainment with exceeding skill
brought other devices into play. For in.
stance, by means of an armature and
magnet in the bottom of the chair on
confederate who commanded a full view
of the house, signalled by means of the
same numerical code, the nature of the
object handed to Heller. This was doubly
mystifying to the audience, as the per
former, of course, did not speak but
merely held the article up, and apparent.
ly gave no sign. Heller's most astonsh
ing tricks however, were usually mix
ture of simplicity and audacity. For il
stance, at one or two of the second sigh
performances some one in the audienc,
would produce book and challenge Mis-
Heller, who was on the stage with he
eyes bandaged to tell its name. After
show OF annoyance and an apparent en-
deavor to avoid the test, Heller would ash
his sister, who invariably gave the nam
of the book correctly. Then the con lure
would tell the owner to stick card a
random between the pages and Miss Hell
Ter would satisfactorily give the humble
f of the page at which the card was placed
t Then came the chief mystiication. Wit
{ her back to the audience, and her eye
# bandaged Miss Heller would calmly rea
s OIL a few lines of the book which wa
II still held by its owner, and the audienc
would fairly roar its delight at the MAJ
# vel The explanation is an easy one. Thu
e owner of the book was a confederate til
# number of the page was given by mean
e of the question-code, aud then Miss Helle
J. would calmly put on her lap copy O
a the same book, previously placed in a St
+ cret receptacle in the lounge on whic
a she sat, and proceed to read off the sui
t jcet matter, her eyes being bandaged Il
J. such way as to permit of her seem
:. | when looking directly downward.