, 1890-12-07
POINTS ON R
Card Tricks Viewed from the stand.
point of Exact Science.

Card Tricks Viewed from the stand
point OF Exact Science.
Card tricks so called can be divided prop
erly into two classes-tricks which are
purely tricks and nothing else. and tricks
which are founded on mathematics. OF
the former 1t can only be said that it re-
quires n special dexterity to handle the
cards coupled with long practice to make
any sort of a success at it. There are scores
of trick books which. profess to reveal hid
den secrets and to show the willing enthu-
siast how to astonish and mystify his
friends on every occasion.
The basis of many of these tricks is the
ART of palming, which alone not one in a
thousand can learn to do with any degree
Of success. In fact, it requires a born
genius to manipulate cards skillfully, and
when a genius of this sort comes into the
worAd he is likely TO switch off from the
playing of harmless tricks to "workingthe
boys" in the yernacular of the gambling
table, and become an ont and out sharper.
There are, however, a number of simple
card tricks, some of which are founded on
mathematics and others which require but
little skill and are easily learned, which are
extremely interesting. To the mind not
versed in the range and power Of numbers
it is simply wonderful what can be lone
with cards. For instance, take the old
spelling trick, which is nothing more than
a simple arrangement of the cards, but al
ways a constant source of deIight-to the
children, and of instruction as well, espe-
cially to those who are just learning to
spell.
Arrange the thirteen cards of any one
suit in the following order: .. ., 10, king,
knave, ., 4, 9, queen, ace, :, s, 3, with the 3
at the bottom. Then take the top card
from the top and place it at the bottom.
Continue the operation and begin to spell.
remembering that each card represents a
letter. Spell in his way ONE. Then turn
up the fourth card II it will be the ace or
one spot. Then continue and spell two.
and the fourth card will be the two SPOT.
Then three and the sixth card will be
the three spot, and SC on, leaving out each
card as it is spelled.
This is an excellent trick for the chill
dren, N here is another one, similar in
idea, and which will give them a knowl-
edge Of the novels. A little story goes
with it. A certain ship contained a crew
of fifteen Christians and fifteen Turks.
Provisions running short, owing to a storm
having driven the ship out of her course, it
became necessary for fifteen of the crew to
die in order TO save the rest.
The willy captain therefore made the fol-
lowing proposition; That the crew should
be placed in a line and every ninth man
couuteu OUT until nIteen men nhd deem Sc
lected. He then placed them in such a
position that every ninth man was a Turk.
Now the question is, How did he do itf Let
fifteen black cards represent the Turks
and fifteen red cards represent the Chris
tians. OF course, it all depends upon the
arrangement of these cards, but it has
been found best in order TO facilitate the
memorizing of them to take a sentence in
which the five vowels appear.
Here is the sentence, From numbers,
aid and art never will fame DEPART The
first vowel in the sentence is o. In the
grammatical arrangement of the novels "a,
e, i, o, NJ this is the fourth. Therefore, be-
ginning with the red cards take four and
place them on the table face down. U is
the next vowel and the fifth in the order.
Therefore take five cards from the black pile
and place them on the four red ones. Then
two red, one black, three red, one black,
one red, two black, two rel, three black,
one red, two black, two red n one black,
alternating the red and black. Then be
ginning with the pile face up, every ninth
card left out will be a black one until they
are exhausted from the pack.
f. WILLING.