The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-03-09
OF MIND READERS.
L Staple Code Of Signals EnableS
Them to Mystify Their
Hearers.


ton of it. The average audience cannot
essist the charm of the lady or gentle.
rar ~ho, 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, anc
others ascribe tito hypnotic power; but
q famous society conjurer, to whom
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 all
that, simply tricks. T.
Il can instruct any intelligent mar
how to do most of the mind reading
business in few short and easy les
sons" he said. Il will tell you enough
now in half an hour to enable you to
give very successful evenings enter
tainment in your own home as mine
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 art
asked to write any questions they
please on little pad, furnished them
from the platform. The mind reader i.
to answer them. The questions when
written, are torn off the pad by ths
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 that
is very rapid, the impression left by he
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 fas,
as brought out, are repeated to him
and he calls them out loud to the audi.
ence and gives witty reply Thus, fol
example, he calls out a lady sitting in
row d asks me the question: Where Il
my husband tonight I am sure she
would rather didn't tell her now, but
l will write to her about it,
1.-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 ques tions.
too, are readily Internationally, be.
cause they are like these: Who is our
most popular general? What is our
next great public holidays?
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 blindfolded mind reader sit.
ting at 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 10 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 is it? The
answer comes at once: a god watch
II 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 1T is an open-faced
watch The word describe is the
agreed signal. If it were hunting
ease then the question would have be.
gun with a different word.
THE articles offered are always about
the same-watches, lockets. penknives,
coins, handkerchiefs. pocketbooks. etc.
There is simple code of signal words
which the mind reader understands
The first or the. last word of the ques-
ton gives him the tip. fla strange ar.
ticle should be offered by any person
the operator is clever enough to pass it
by"-Rival,