The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-02-13


tertained the Hamilton Whist Club of
Philadelphia With Tricks Which Have
Mystihed KelIar and Hermann.
What was regarded by experts as the
most marvellous exhibition of card magic
ever seen at Philadelphia was given at
the Hamilton Whist club by Thomas B.
Arnold Of Cincinnati. A formal reoep-
tion 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 we'll known Cincin-
natl business man, being q member of
the Wholesale shoe firm of Alter, Julian
s. Co.
He is not professional magician, but
his tricks have mystifled such men
trained In magic as Kellar and Herr
mann. He has refused fabulous sums
which have been offered him to go be-
fore the public as professional, pre-
ferring quiet, domestic life to any no.
toriety he might gain as a magician.
Mr.. Arnold opened the eyes Of his
witnesses by what he calls very SIM
pie trick. Two new packs of cards be-
longing to the club were produced. He
had never seen them before. Shutting
one deck, he held 1t out to one of the
gentlemen present, saying: "Select a
card from this pack and then return 1t,
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 Sc
lected by you. will 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, OK.
claimed Mr.. Arnold, lis the card you
selected"
A cheer greeted the announcement
that that was correct.
Now, here is q good one, said the
entertainer Pointing to Charles Var
nall, he continued: Twill you kindly Sc
leot card in your mind? Do not men,
ton its name. "
When the selection was made, he pick
ed up pack, shuffied it oarelessly, and
walking over to the wall threw the
cards at picture. They fell in show
or to the floor
"Turn tho back of tho picture out
ward" said Mr. Arnold. When this
was done, card was seen sticking in a
crack in the back of the frame. 1t was
the jack of spades. THAT, sir, is the
card you had in mind"
Mr.. Yarnall acknowledged that it
was, and the crowd was oonvulsed.
Again, q member of the company was
asked to take card in his mind. Four
others were asked to take cards at ran
dom from tho pack and remember the
numerical value of tho card. The spec
tator who drew the first card was told
to write the number on sheet of paper.
The second man wrote the number of
his card in separate corner. The third
man placed his number under the SEQ
ond one and added the two together, af-
fixing the result to the first number. The
fourth man affixed the number of his
card to the other two numbers. The re-
suit was 374.
Now" said Mr.. Arnold, will 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 a book. Turn
to page 874," ordered the entertainer.
The book was opened at the page indi-
Gated, 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 q selection.
The Statement was correct.
The most remarkable trick Of all was
the last. Captain Walton, president Of
the American Whist Players league,
pack, replacing it and keeping the card
In his mind. Mr. Arnold took an 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 bro
ken. No card was concealed up his
sleeve or anywhere about his person.
When tho egg was broken, card was
seen in the tumbler, orumpled up and
covered with the yolk of the egg
Drawing 1t out, Mr.. Arnold asked,
"What card did you draw, Captain
Walton?'
''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.. Ar
mold never played game for stake in
his life. II could make a fortune as
gambler, said he, "for l can deal
man any hand choose, but wouldn't
dare to play out in our western country,
for would be shot sure as fate. / don't
know what it is that enables me to do
these tricks. I studied them all out my
self, but I can't explain how or why
do them. "--Philadelphia Times.