The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-03-09
TRICKS WITH CARDS.
A Remarkable Exhibition by a Non
Professional
From the PhiIadelnhia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
What was regarded by experts as the
most marvellous exhibition of card magic
ever seen in Philadelphia was given at
the Hamilton Whist club by Thomas B.
Arnold. of Cincinnati A formal recep-
ton was given by the Hamilton club to
Mr.. Arnold, who, in return for the hos
pitality rendered him. entertained his
hosts with series Of most remarkable
card tricks
Mr. Arnold is a well known Cincinnati
business man, being Il member of the
wholesale shoe firm of Alter. Julian 4
Co.
He is not a professional magician, but
his tricks have mystified such men trained
in magic as Keller and Hermann He
has refused fabulous sums which have
been offered him to 90 before the public
as professional, preferring a quiet, do
mestic life to any nOtoriety he might gain
as a magician.
Mr. Arnold opened the eyes of his
witnesses by what he calls very simple
trick. Two new packs Of cards belonging
to the club were produced. He had
never seen them before Shutting one
deck. he.held it out to one of the gentle
men present, saying Select card
from this pack and then return it, keeping
the card in your mind will turn my
back to you as you make your selection.
One of the other gentlemen will take the
second pack and throw it on the floor,
The only card that will fall face upward
will be the card selected by you. viii
not touch either one of the decks
The card was selected, and the gentle
man threw the second pack on the floor,
the nine of diamonds being the only card
that fell face upward That, ex-
claimed Mr. Arnold, is the card you
selected.
\ cheer greeted the announcement that
that was correct.
Now, here is a good one, said the
entertainer Pointing to Charles Var
nall, he continued ''Will you kindly
select card in your mind DO not men
ton its name.
When the selection was made, he pick
ed up Il pack, shuffled it carelessly, and
walking over to the wall threw the cards
at picture. They fell in shower to
the floor
Turn the back of the picture out
ward. said Mr.. Arnold When this
was done, card was seen sticking in Il
crack in the back of the frame 1t was
the jack of spades That. sir is the
card you had in mind.
Mr. Yamall acknowledged that it was,
and the crowd was convulsed,
Again. a member Of the company was
asked to take card in his mind Four
others were asked to take cards at random
from the pack and remember the numerical
value of the card The spectator who
drew the first card was told to write the
number on a sheet of paper. The second
man wrote the number of his card in Il
separate corner. The third man placed
his number under the second one and ad-
ded the two together. affixmg the result to
the first number. The fourth man affixed
the number of his card to the other tw"
numbers. The result was 37i
Now. said Mr. Arnold, viii two
gentlemen accompany me to the library.
each of them holding one of my hands. A
third can come along to see fair play
They returned bringing book. Turn
to page 374. ordered the entertainer
The book was opened at the page indicat-
ed. and card was found 1t was the
deuce of spades. That is your card
said Mr. Arnold to the gentleman he had
asked to make Il selection
The statement was correct,
The most remarkable trick of all was
the last. Captain Walton, President of
the American Whist Players League was
asked to draw card from the pack, replac
ing it and keeping the card in his mind
Mr.. Arnold took and egg. selecting one at
random from half dozen, and broke it
into tumbler He showed first that
neither the shell nor the inner skin of the
egg had been broken No card was con
cealed up his sleeve or anywhere about his
person When the egg was broken,
card was seen in the tumbler erlmpled up
and covered with the yolk of the egg.
Drawing it out, Mr. Arnold asked,
What card did you draw, Captain
Walton p
The queen of clubs.
There it is The pack was search
ed and that particular card found miss
ing.
Although an expert on cards, Mr.
Arnold never played game for stake in
his life. II could make a fortune as a
gambler, said he, for | can deal man
any hand | choose, but | wouldn't
dare to play out in our western country,
for would be shot sure as fate. l don't
know what ii is that enables me to do
these tricks. studied them all out my
self, but | can explain how or why / do
them.