Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09

pared to amuse his niece and nephew
~ "Well play with cards to-day" he an
nounced. ITO begin with, we'll try this little
experiment in mind reading"
Uncle Bob held the pack of cards between
his two hands, shutting them rapidly. He
then offered them to the children and let them
shuttle the cards thoroughly. Taking the
pack again, he held it. with the backs of the
cards up. loosely between his two hands
Then, with the finger tips of his right hand he
began drawing down the cards one by one,
about half an inch from the top of the pack,
bidding the children stop him whenever they
chose When he had pulled down some fifteen
or twenty, Lucy cried, "Stop!'
away from the pack all the cards he had pulled
down, he held them SO that the bottom card
could be seen by the children but not by him
self. He bade them notice what it was, and
Lucy and they saw that it was the king of
spades.
Uncle Bob then returned the cards to the
rest of the pack, and Immediately handed
them all to the children to shuttle as much as
they chose. Then, taking the pack again, he
announced that he would show them the card
they had in mind. He shuffled the pack him
self, and then, grasping it between his thumb
and finger tips, he flung it sharply on the
floor.
To the delight of the children, all the cards
fell to the floor except the king of spades.
which remained in Uncle Bob's hand.
Again they tried it; but this time with a
slight variation. Spreading the cards like a
fan, Uncle Bob allowed the children to draw
one and babe them note it carefully but on
no account let him see it. They did so, and
| returned it to the pack, which Uncle Bob i'm
mediately gave to them to shuttle. They
shuffled it thoroughly, and returned it, where
upon their wizard uncle remarked that he
| would show them their card, or tell them its
name, whichever they chose.
SHOW it to u.s. cried Fred; it's lots more
| fun" So, careessly gathering up the pack,
| Uncle Bob again flung it to the floor, and this
| time all the cards reached the floor face down.
ward except the three of diamonds, which lay
| face up, staring at them, and which was the
very card Fred had previously drawn from the
pack.
| The third time Uncle Bob merely handed
the pack to the children bidding them keep
out one card and give him back the rest of the
pack They did so, and after they had noted
the card he asked them to put it in the pack
| at any place they chose.
This they did, and, after the usual shutting,
| Uncle Bob announced that this time Lucy
should show the card herself. So he put the
pack into Lucys hand face upward, and babe
her hold it, with her thumb on the top card
and her four fingers underneath. He directed
especially that her finger tips should extend
| under the pack about an inch, but her thumb
| on top not more than half inch.
Hold them tight" said Uncle Bob, and as
he spoke, he himself struck the pack OF cards
smart rap with his forefnger, whereupon all
the cards fell to the ground except the queen
of hearts, which remained in Lucys hand,
and which was the one they had selected that
time.
Now, for the explanation" said Uncle
Bob. THE first thing is, to discover the card
chosen. This did in three ways. The other