The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-02-16
TRICKS OF MIND READERS.
A Simple Code of Signals Enables
Them TO Mystify Their
Hearers.

There is nothing more interesting
than mystery-eXcept the eXplana'
tion of it. The average audience cannot
resist the charm of the lady or gentle.
man who, with his eyes blindfolded, sits
upon the platform and tells them the
contents of their pockets, the dates Of
the coins in their purses, or the make
and pattern of their watches.
Some say it is done by thought trans,
ference, others call it pulse reading and
others ascribe it to hypnotic power; but
famous society conjurer, to whom a
Rival man applied for information, said
bluntly that two-thirds of all the mind
reading performances are simply tricks
very cleverly arranged, beyond the pow.
er of the audience to detect, but, for ali
that, simply tricks.
Il can instruct any intelligent mar
how to do most of the mind reading
business in a few short and easy les
sons" he said. II will tell you enough
now in half an hour to enable you Is
give very successful evenings enter
tainment in your own home as a mind
reader.
Take first the favorite feat known
in the profession as the Pad act The
blindfolded mind reader sits on thu
platform. People in the audience are
asked to write any questions they
please on little pad, furnished them
from the platform. The mind reader is
TO answer them. The questions when
written, are torn off the pad by the
writer's and put into their pockets SC
that the mind reader cannot possibly
read them. Then the attendants &C
round and take back the pads, on which
no writing appears. They are taken
quickly downstairs, under the platform
There, by chemical treatment tina.
is very rapid, the impression left by the
writer on the pad is brought out dis
tinctly. The mind reader is seated in
the chair so that his ear is close to 9
speaking tube. The questions, as fast
as brought out, are repeated to him
and he calls them out loud to the audi
ence and gives witty reply. Thus, for
example, he calls out A lady sitting in
row asks me the question: Where is
my husband to-night?' l am sure she
would rather l didn't tell her now, but
l will write to her about it.
THE audience roars. and the mind
reading miracle is apparently proved
by the mere fact that the questions are
actually called out to one after another
Of the audience. Many of the questions.
too, are readily answered correctly be
cause they are like these: Who is ou1
most popular general? What is our
next great public holiday
The conjurer was asked if he could
explain how the Identification CT ar
ticles taken at haphazard from the
pockets of persons in large hall was
made by a blindfolded mind reader sit
ting at a distance on the platform.
That is just as simple as the other
feats," he replied. The confederate of
the seance goes round among the audi
ence and calls for articles. One person
hands him gold watch. What is this
l have in my hand?' he calls out TO the
| mind reader. Emphasis is on the word
what Instantly the answer comes:
"A watch That word what is an
agreed signal.
What kind" of watch Isl t?' The
answer comes at once: a gold watch.
If it had been silver one, the question
would have been: What sort" of a
watch is it?'
Then the question is put: Describe
the watch further Tits an open-faced
watch The word describe is the
agreed signal. If it were a hunting
case then the question would have be-
gun with different word
The articles offered are always about
the same-watches, lockets, penknives,
coins, handkerchiefs, pocketbooks, etc
There is a simple code of signal words
which the mind reader understands
The first or the last word of the ques-
ton gives him the tip. If a strange ar.
ticle should be offered by any person
the operator is clever enough to pass it
y."-Rival,