Eric Lewis-Mysteries of the Mystic-7

WILL

ALMA

M.I.M.C. (LO N D O N )

2 nd E d i t i o n

C O P Y R I G H T I N GT. B R I T A I N A N D U.S.A. I M P O R T A N T : T h e r i g h t s of M a n u f a c t u r i n g any of the i t e m s d e s e r i b e d in t h i s b o o k are s t r i c t l y r e s e r v e d b y the p u b l i s h e r s . D u p l i c a t e d a n d I l l u s t r a t e d b y U r i c G. Lewis, N o r t h a m p t o n .

T h e M y s t i c Seven* v/hose h e a d q u a r t e r s are at Dewsbury, Y o r k s h i r e , England, is a m a g i c a l s o c i e t y f o r m e d in M a y 1934. Seven local amateur and semi-professional m a g i c i a n s f o r m e d its f i r s t council. M u c h p r o g r e s s h a s "been m a d e d u r i n g the f i r s t 18 months a n d the S o c i e t y h a s n o w 1 4 a c t i v e members. T h e V i c e - P r e s i d e n t s o f the S o c i e t y are C h r i s V a n Bern* H o r a c e Goldiii a n d Levante. D u r i n g it s f i r s t y e a r the f o l l o w i n g p r o f e s s ­ i o n a l m a g i c i a n s were e n t e r tained: Horace G-oid.ln, L e v a n t e , P a u l R u p e r t ( R u p e r t Howa r d ) jldwerd Victor, C h r i s V a n Bern, i?red C u l p i t t a n d B i l l y O' Conner. 4 3 2 L e e d s Road, Dewsbury, "England. J o h n B. Vard, Hon. Secretary.

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iT07 H E R D ' S H O W ,. On top of p a c k h a v e the f o l l o w i n g 25 c a r d s in a n y o r d e r : - Ace, 2, 6 a n d 10 D i amonds; 3, 7, 8 a n d Q of C l u b s ; Q 4, 5, 8, 9, J, Q, a n d K of Shades; 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 r a n d K o f Hearts. P e r f o r m e r r u n s t h r o u g h the p a c k s h o w i n g f a c e s to the a u d i e n c e and false s h u f f l e s if d e s i r e d (not d i s t u r b i n g top 25 cards). S p e c t a t o r is a s k e d to assist. MOVES. 1. S p e c t a t o r d e a l s 25 cards o n r i g h t of table a n d a n o t h e r 25 o n l e f t of table, d i s c a r d i n g the two remaining. 2. S p e c t a t o r s h u f f l e s b o t h heaps. 3. 7reo c h o i c e of c i t h e r h e a p is given. 4. If s p e c t a t o r c h o o s e s h e a p o n right, h e m a y r e m o v e any c a r d h e desires, a n d is g i v e n the c h o i c e of r e t u r n i n g it to e i t h e r hear). If r e t u r n e d to h e a p f r o m w h i c h the c a r d w a s taken, he a g a i n s h u f f l e s t h a t h e a p a n d p e r f o r m e r p r o c e e d s to n a m e the c a r d an d then s pell it out. If c a r d t a k e n f r o m the r i g h t is r e ­ t u r n e d to the l e f t heap, s p e c t a t o r is a s k e d to r e m o v e a n y i n ­ d i f f e r e n t c a r d f r o m t h a t heap, so as to m a i n t a i n the b a l a n c e of twenty-five. He a g a i n s h u f f l e s T H A T h e a p a n d p e r f o r m e r n a m e s c a r d a n d p r o c e e d s to spell it out.

Page 3. If s p e c t a t o r c h o o s e s the l e f t heap, he is a s k e d to s e l e c t a c a r d f r o m the r i g h t h e a p a n d shuf f l e into the l e f t h e a p a f t e r d i s c a r d i n g one c a r d to m a i n t a i n the "balance of 25. WORKING. C h o s e n c ards are h a n d e d to the p e r ro r m e r who d e a l s t h e m out s i n g l y into f i v e h e a p s of f i v e cards. Performer picks up e a c h five, f a n s them, a n d asks s p e c t a t o r i f he sees h i s card, '.'/hatever h e a p h i s c a r d is in, that h e a p g o e s into the m i d d l e of the o t h e r f o u r h e a p s - two a bove a n d two below. Cards, are n o w d e a l t ou t as b efore, b u t P A C E UP. S p e c t a t o r is n o w a s k e d to i n d i c a t e in w h i c h h e a p he sees h i s card. (N, B. T h i s - i s - w h e r e p e r f o r m e r g e t s k n o w l e d g e of the card, w h i c h w i l l a lw a y s b e the m i d d l e c a r d of that heap). H e a p s are n o w a s s e m b l e d as b e f o r e , w i t h h e a p c o n t a i n i n g c h o s e n c a r d in the midd l e . ("j’ also shuffle if d e s i r e d ) No m a t t e r w h a t the c a r d is it can n o w b e spelled. Deal c a r d s f a c e u p o n tho t a b l e w h i l e spelling, because some cards s p e l l ou t in twelve l e t t e r s a n d o t h e r s t h i r t e e n l e t t e r s . If s p e l l i n g f i n i s h e s on the t w e l f t h card, the s e l e c t e d card w i l l be next.

T3.??~5CT Two s h e e t s of p l a i n g l a s s 8 ;l b y 6 “ are p a s s e d to the a u d i e n c e f o r e x a m i n a t i o n an d f a s t e n e d t o g e t h e r w i t h small g u m m e d labels. T h e s e are t a k e n b a c k to the s tage a n d p l a c e d in a s t a n d in f u l l v i e w of the audience. T h e r e is no c o v e r i n g f o r them. A p a c k of cards is t h e n s h u f f l e d a n d a s p e c t a t o r s e l e c t s one. A p a c k e t of e n v e l o p e s is t h e n h a n d e d to h i m a n d a n y o n e is t a k e n a n d examined. U a c h c o r n e r of the e n v e l o p e h a s o n e of the g u m m e d l a b e l s a t t a c h e d to it a n d a f t e r e n v e l o p e h a s b e e n i n i t ­ ialled, it is t a k e n b a c k to the s t a g e and is f a s t e n e d b y m e a n s of the l a b e l s to the c e n t r e of the glasses. S p e c t a t o r i n the m e a n t i m e h a s r e t u r n e d h i s s e l e c t e d c a r d to the p ack, replaced the p a c k in its case, a n d h o l d s it in h i s hands. S p e c t a t o r is n o w a s k e d to n a m e h i s c a r d a n d o n l o o k i n g t h r o u g h the p a c k it is f o u n d to h a v e v a n i s h e d a n d o n l y 51 cards are left. P e r f o r m e r n o w goes to the s tage a n d p o i n t i n g to the e n v e l o p e on the glasses, says, "Is t h a t the e n v e l o p e w i t h y o u r initials a c r o s s it? I e x p e c t y o u t h i n k t h a t the m i s s i n g c a r d is n o w in the envelope. T h a t is r a t h e r o l d - f a s h i o n e d 11. Taking.'tfoe^glasees out of stand, p e r f o r m e r r e m o v e s the e n v e l o p e a n d c a r d is f o u n d B I T t / m N the s e a l e d glasses.

Page A p i e c e of a n g l e m e t a l as i n T H O D, shov/n in ?ig 1 is m a d e to h o l d two sheets of g lass 6 !l b y S ;,t Pours s h e e ts of glas s this size are required. Two of them are in A y'ig 1 .and two are in B i’ ig 1 The end B is f a c i n g audience, The g l a s s e s in this end are s e al e d as explained, w i t h a d u p l i c a t e card like that to be forced, b e t w e e n them. The two l o o s e sheets are in end A in an u p r i g h t p o s i t i o n w h e r e they are in view. A t t e n t i o n is n o w c a l l e d to the two sheet s of glass, w h i c h are r e m o v e d f r o m the s t a n d a n d p a s s e d f c r e x a m ­ ination. S t i c k e r s are f i x e d on the g l a s s e s to b i n d them t o g e t h e r e x a c t l y in p o s i t i o n s s hown in j’ ig 2. These labels can be s h a p e d as s hown o r \ r o u n d o n e s m a y be used. T h e s e are ' obtainable ready cut a n d g u m m e d at any stationers. A f t e r g l a s s e s are s e a l e d are r e t u r n e d to the s t a n d a n d are in f u l l view of the audience. H a n d the cards to spectator. fo r c e a d u p l i c a t e of the c a r d b e t w e e n glasses. On top cf the p a c k h a v e a c a r d w h o s e b a c k is t r e a t e d w i t h w a x or Diachylon. C a r d is retui-ned to p a c k w h i c h is u n d e r c u t b y p e r f o r m e r s o "that s e l e c t e d c a r d goes o n top of w a x e d one.. ’ P a c k is s q u a r e d a n d s e c r e t l y p r e s s e d so that s e l e c t e d card adhe r e s to w a x e d one. C a r d s are r e t u r n e d to c a s e a n d a s s i s t a n t is r e q u e s t e d to h o l d the same. The p a c k e t of e n v e l o p e s is t h e n h a n d e d to s p e c t a t o r w h o s e l e c t s one a n d f o u r s t i c k e r s are f i x e d to each c o r n e r of e nvelope, h a l f of each s t i c k e r on envelope. The e n v e l o p e is i n i t i a l l e d . 'Return to stage a n d m o i s t e n s t i c k e r s o n envelope. Say, "I shall n o w p l a c e this i n t i a l l e d e n v e l o p e on the f r o n t of the g l a s s e s w h i c h y o u see b e f o r e you'1. I n s a y i n g this y o u m o m e n t a r i l y c o v e r g l a s s e s w i t h your b o d y a nd T I P T H ” j G L A S S E S . A N D >STAND jOWSR t h u s b r i n g i n g No. 3 set u p w i t h the card between. At once p l a c e e n v e l o p e o v e r the g l a s s e s ( w i t h c a r d b e t w e e n ) a n d s t i c k the l a b e l s to the glasses.

NOT'7’ .: The r i g h t s of m a n u f a c t u r e of this e f f e c t are r e s e r v e d b y the inventor.

v/hen the s e c r e t a r y of the Ilystic S e v e n a s k e d m e to c o n t r i b u t e an a r t i c l e to ''its11 book, I h a d d e c i d e d on g i v i n g an e x p l a n ­ a t i o n of small p r o d u c t i v e i l l u s i o n s that I h a d in mind. On t h i n k i n g the m a t t e r over, I d i s c o v e r e d that m o s t e v e r y o n e else w o u l d b e d o i n g the same thing. T h e refore, I t h i n k t h i s a r t i c l e o n O r i e n t a l H a g i c w i l l b e app r e c i a t e d , on a c c o u n t of i t .3 a u t h e n t i c i t y , i n the m e t h o d s of the m a g i c of the ‘ ilast. One d a y w h e n p r o c e e d i n g to the t h e a t r e at H a n k i n g , I saw a n u m b e r of p e o p l e c o l l e c t e d o n a v a c a n t p i e c e of l a n d w a t c h i n g , w h a t I t h o u g h t to be, C h i n e s e s t reet per f o r m e r s , acrobats m a g i c i a n s , jugglers. A l w a y s h a v i n g the idea at the b a c k of m y m i n d t h a t t here m i g h t be s o m e t h i n g I h a d n o t s e e n b e f o r e , I p u s h e d m y w a y i n t o the c r o w d a n d d i s c o v e r e d an o l d m a n of sixty, a y o u n g f e l l o w of a bout t h i r t y a n d two s mall b o y s of a b o u t s i x or n i n e y e a r s of age, g i v i n g a p e r f o r m a n c e of j u g g ­ l i n g a n d g r o u n d ac r o b a t i c s . The o l d m a n in the m e a n t i m e h a d picked up a chopper s i m i l a r to one u s e d b y a b u t c h e r in this c o u n t r y a n d wa s c u t t i n g u p l e n g t h s of b a m b o o a b o u t 4 f e e t l o n g a n d w a s p o i n t i n g e a c h p i e c e w i t h a knife. A p p a r e n t l y the i d e a wa s to u s e t h e m f o r p l a t e spinning. I thought at the time it was rather unusual to see the p l a t e s p i n n e r p r e p a r i n g his b a m b o o s h a f t s in pu b l i c . U s u a l l y t h e y h a v e them r e a d y f o r the performance. T h e o l d man, h a v i n g cut the b a m b o o into i t ’ s v a r i o u s strips, t h r e w c h o p p e r d o w n o n a towel, t h e n t u c k e d the k n i f e b a c k in h i s belt. T h e n h e a n d the y o u n g m a n c a r r i e d out a p e r f o r m a n c e of p l a t e spinning. I n the m e a n t i m e the boys w e r e p r e p a r i n g a t ab l e w i t h t r e s t l e a n d some b o w l s f o r a p e r f o r m a n c e of b e n d ­ i n g a n d contor t i o n s . Th e e l d e r boy, in e s s a y i n g the t a s k of b e n d i n g b a c k f r o m the tr e e t l e o n the table to p i c k u p a b o w l of w a t e r w i t h hi s m o u t h , le t h i s f o o t slip a n d f e l l o f f the trestle. He wa s t o l d b y the o l d m a n to go b a c k a n d do it again, and^ this time c o r r e c t l y . In t r y i n g the t r i c k a s e c o n d time, he a g a i n fell. The o l d m a n w a s b y this time f u r i o u s l y h u r l i n g , w h a t I i m a g i n e d to be, C h i n e s e o a ths a n d t o l d h i m to go b a c k a g a i n a n d do the trick. A n d in d o i n g i t . t h e b o y this t i m e f e l l c o m p l e t e l y f r o m the t r e s t l e . W i t h o u t a n y h e s i t a t i o n w h a t s o e v e r the o l d m a n p u l l e d out of h i s b e l t the k n i f e h e h a d b e e n u s i n g to p o i n t the b a m b o o a n d s t a b b e d the b o y in h i s stomach. Blood s p u r t e d in all d i r e c t i o n s . The o l d m a n w a s f r o t h i n g at the mouth. O n p u l l i n g h i s k n i f e o u t of the b o y ' s abdomen and

Page 6. w h i l s t the b o y l a y on h i s b a c k on the c o n j u r o r ’s arms, a p o o l of b l o o d was to b e s e e n in the h o l l o w of h i s stomach. T h e n the o l d m a n t u r n e d the b o y o v e r an d o n the b o y ' s b a c k could be rseen w h e r e the p o i n t of the k n i f e h a d b e e n p u s h e d through. Some of the s p e c t a t o r s t h e n m a d e some r e m a r k s to £ h e o l d m a n w h o w a s still f r o t h i n g at the m o u t h a n d t a l k i n g away. I n tho m e a n t i m e , the y o u n g e r m a n h a d t h r o w n a c l o t h o v e r the boy, who w a s n o w l a y i n g o n the f o r m - l i k e t r e s t l e f a c e d o wnwards. The o l d man, s e e i n g the c h o p p e r l y i n g o n the towel, p i c k e d it^up a n d t h r e w the c l o t h p a r t l y o v e r the b o y ’s b a c k e x p o s i n g his h e a d a n d s t r u c k h i m a short sharp "blow o n the 'Sack o f the n e c k a n d t h e n t h r e w the c l o t h b a c k o v e r the b o y ' s h e a d , Y/e w i t n e s s e d b l o o d p o u r i n g f r o m b e n e a t h the c l o t h f r o m w h a t m i g h t b e the g a s h o n the b a c k of the b o y ’o neck. A l l t h i s l e f t m e r a t h e r pert u r bed. P r e s e n t l y i n t o the c r o w d came the u s u a l C h i n e s e P o l i c e m a n w h o t h r e a t e n e d to t a k e the e l d e r C / d n e s e o f f to prison. The e l d e r C h i n e s e then stated t h a t if sufficient money was t h r o w n in, he w o u l d call on c e r t a i n s p i r i t s t h a t he, the g r e a t Hagician, c o u l d t h e n c ause the b o y to come to l i f e again. P r o d u c i n g several m e d a l s o u t of a c l o t h b a g h e s h o w e d t h e m to the P o l i c e Con s t a b l e . These m e d a l s w e r e a p p a r e n t l y p r o o f that he w a s a Magi c i a n , T h e y o u n g ­ er m a n a n d the o t h e r boy, in the m e a n t i m e h a d t a k e n u p the c o l l e c t i o n . W h e n t h e y d e c i d e d the a m o u n t to be s u f f i c i e n t , the o l d m a n p i c k e d u p a towel, p u t it u n d e r n e a t h the cloth, a n d v i g o r o u s l y r u b b e d b a c k w a r d s a n d f o r w a r d s on the b o y ’s neck. P r e s e n t l y he t o o k a w a y the chopi^er w i t h one h a n d a n d at the same t i m e r e m o v e d the c l o t h w i t h the other. There was no mar k w h a t s o e v e r o n t he b o y ’ s neck, e x c e p t a f e w s m e a r s of w h a t m i g h t b e b l o o d , a n d the b o y a p p e a r e d to b e quite n o r m a l . Then t h r o w i n g the c l o t h c o m p l e t e l y o f f the boy, the o l d C h i n e s e h i m s e l f t h r e w h i m o v e r h i s knee, w i p e d the '’ b l o o d 11 f r o m the boy’ s stomach; the b o y bowed, w e n t a w a y and £at down, a n d was quit e normal. P r o c e e d i n g to the T h e a t r e this p r o b l e m h a d w o r r i e d m e c o n s i d ­ e r a b l y a n d I h a d no s o l u t i o n to o f f e r f o r it. While I was in Ceyl o n , I came i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h a n A m e r i c a n C a r n i v a l s h o w m a n w h o a l s o d i d some magic, I t o l d h i m of this e f f e c t I h a d seen at N a n k i n g a n d h e l a u ghed, i n f o r m i n g m e that h e a l s o h a d seen t h e m a n d e n g a g e d the t r o u p e , t h a t they w e r e n o w w o r k i n g f o r h i m in the Carnival, a n d if I c a r e d to come o v e r h e v/ould h a v e t h e m p e r f o r m it f o r m e a f t e r the show, a n d show m e h o w i t w a s done. I d u l y w i t n e s s e d the p e r f o r m a n c e a g a i n a n d m a n a g e d to f a t h o m h o w it w a s done. Certain minor points o n w h i c h I was n o t q uite c e r t a i n w e r e a f t e r w a r d s c l e a r e d u p f o r m e b y the Chinese. A f t e r the o l d m a n h a d cut the b a m b o o s t i c k s i n t o sect i o n s , he t h r e w the c h o p p e r o v e r the towel. I n the m e a n t i m e the y o u n g m a n of the p a r t y v/as c a r r y i n g o u t h i s p a r t o f the p e r f o r m a n c e .

Parte 7 . While t h i s w as h a p p e n i n g one o f the b o y s t h r e w h a l f of the f o l d e d towel b a c k o v e r the chopper, c o v e r i n g it a n d e x p o s i n g in its p l a c e a d u p l i c a t e w h i c h w a s n o t h i n g b u t a h o l l o w m e t a l f a k e m a d e to r e p r e s e n t the c h o p p e r a n d f i l l e d w i t h a c o l o u r e d l i o u i d l o o k i n g l i k e blood. The k n i f e was also d u p l i c a t e d b y the Chi-iese h i m s e l f w ho a f t e r he h a d t u c k e d in the k n i f e p r o p e r into h i s belt, a n d w h i l e p i c k i n g u p some p r o p s d u r i n g p a r t of the p e r f o r m a n c e , s u b s t i t u t i n g the real k n i f e f o r a k n i f e m a d e on the sane l i nes as that f a m i l i a r i n o u r c o u n t r y ’ //■herein the b l a d e p u s h e s u p into the handle. But in t h i s case, when the b l a d e p u s h e d u p into the handle, it f o r c e d o u t a q u a n t i t y of b l o o d l i k e liquid, a n d w h e n this s t r u c k the b o y it w a s n a t u r a l l y a s s u m e d that w h e n the b l a d e p r e s s e d into the b o y ’s b o d y it c a u s e d the b l o o d to flow. The r e m a i n d e r of the gruesome performance is an e x c e l l e n t act of s h o w m a n s h i p and w a s d o n e in a m o s t c o n v i n c i n g style. rjl

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The first fire-walkers I e v e r saw w e r e in the l i t t l e v i l l a g e of A l f o n s o , Cavite, Philii)pines. I h a d j o u r n e y e d a w h o l e day b y la u n c h , car, hors e , a n d b y f o o t to see t h e s e m e n of w h o m t h e r e w e r e eleven. I sat in the m o o n l i g h t and l i s t e n e d to the drums, g o n g a n d cymbal, the w h i l e k e e p i n g time, whilst a g u i t a r p i c k e d o u t a w a l t z tune, a n d saw these e l e v e n m e n w a l k a l a r g e f i r e of s h o r t b u r n i n g sticks a n d reduce it to ashes. I examined their feet a n d l o o k e d f o r f a k e s of e v e r y k i n d a n d f o u n d , l i k e m a n y o t h e r s b e f o r e me, nothing. I h a d a n i n t e r e s t in a c a r n i v a l p r o p o s t i o n i n A u s t r a l i a , and after dealing w i t h the G o v e r n m e n t s of the P h i l i p p i n e s and A u s t r a l i a , w a s p e r m i t t e d to take to A u s t r a l i a f c r the Sydn e y E x h i b i t i o n , s i x Ta g al og ?ire Walkers. O n o c c a s i o n s these m e n w a l k e d o n f i r e t h i r t y t i m e s d a i l y a n d e x p e r i e n c e d no h u r t - a n d t h e y d i d N O T u s e a n y d o p e o n t h e i r feet. The s o l u t i o n to this p r o b l e m is b o r n e o u t f r o m the f a c t that one m u s t go to the n a t i v e to l e a r n a l ot of things. We are too m o d e r n i s e d a n d s u p e r - s e n s i t ­ ive to a l l o w o u r s e l v e s to w a l k o n fire. I can a s s u r e y o u that w a l k i n g on f i r e is o n e of the w o r l d ’s g r e a t e s t i l l u s i o n s . I know, f o r I h a v e d o n e it. H a v i n g seen f i r e - w a l k e r s in f i v e d i f f e r e n t c o u ntries, I h a v e d i s c o v e r e d that the p r o c e d u r e is p r a c t i c a l l y the same in all cases. The f i r e is b u i l t of s h o r t p i e c e s of soft w o o d a n d is u s u a l l y well b u r n t b e f o r e the w a l k ­ i n g t a k e s place. It is b u i l t o n a g r a s s y surface or a place w h e r e t h e r e is a lo t of soft earth. T h e w a l k e r s are n e v e r on the f i r e m o r e t h a n s i x steps, then t h e y m o v e off w h i l e a n o t h e r ta k e s h i s place. T h i s a l l o w s the c o o l i n g of the f i r s t w a l k e r s feet, a n d p e r m i t s the g r a s s o r soft d i r t to g e t b e t w e e n his toes a n d thus e x t i n g u i s h a n y small embers that m i g h t have l o d g e d there. This was particularly noticeable in Rangoon w h e r e a f e w y e a r s ago I sa w the P e r s i a n M a h o m o d a n s d o i n g t h e i r y e a r l y f i r e - w a l k i n g stunt. T h e y h a d a f i r e 16 f e e t i n l e n g t h

Page 8. "built in a t r e n c h a b o u t s i x i nch e s deep, a n d at e a c h e n d w a s h e a p e d a p i l e of damp sandThe i n i t i a t e s h a d irever w a l k e d o n f i r e "before, b u t a f t e r s p e n d i n g several hours beating and c h a n t i n g t h e m s e l v e s into a frensy, they f i n a l l y r a c e d a c r o s s the fire. T h i s w e n t on f o r p e r h a p s t h i r t y rainutes, u n t i l the f i r e v/as ”n o n est'*. One of m y stage staff h a d c a r r i e d out this f i r e ­ w a l k i n g the 2/ear p r e v i o u s l y a n d he c o n f i d e n t i a l l y i n f o r m e d m e •‘ that s a h i b c o u l d do it". A f t e r i n f o r m i n g h i m that I w a s a f i r e w a l k e r I g l e a n e d the f o l l o w i n g facts. T h e f i r e m u s t b e w e l l b u r n e d a n d the g r o u n d s u r r o u n d i n g it m u s t b e cool a n d loose. If an y of m y r e a d e r s w i l l do this t h 6 y can b e c o m e f i r e ~ v a l k e r s overnight. O

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The b e s t d e m o n s t r a t i o n s of f i r e - e a t i n g is a c c r e d i t e d to the Kadrassi. I h a v e seen H a s s e n O h a t t e r g e j b i o w f l a m e s two f e e t l o n g f r o m h i s mouth, I also saw a P a r s e e w i z a r d p l a c e a r e d - h o t b a r o n to h i s tongue u n t i l the f l e s h seared. This last effect was p r a c t i c e d m a n y y e a r s ago, but has n o w become m ore or less decadent. It w a s r e s u r r e c t e d f o r m y benefit. I n d i a n f i r e - b l o w i n g is c a r r i e d o u t as f o l l o w s . O n the e n d of a p e n c i l o r w a n d p l a c e a t h i c k n e s s of o r d i n a r y c o c o a n u t f i b r e a bou t h a l f - a n - i n c h p a d w i l l do nicely. O v e r this s t r e t c h a p i e c e o£* c h e e s e c l o t h or t h i n musl i n ; p u l l all this t i g h t l y a n d tie w i t h s t r i n g a bout one i n c h down. T h i s w i l l g i v e .you a d r u m s t i c k a b o u t the size of an egg. T h e n t a k e a k n i f e a n d t r i m off the s h r e d s of f i b r e a n d cloth. R e m o v e this f i b r e b a l l f r o m the s t i o k a n d y o u h a v e a h o l e to m o r e t h a n the d e p t h of the centre. I n th i s p l a c e a p i e c e of f i b r e that h a s b e e n ignited. H a v e an a s s i s t a n t b l o w into the hole: this w i l l c a u s e a g e n e r a l smoulder. Get p o s o e s c;ion of this f a k e a n d l o o d it into y o u r m o u t h w i t h the a p e r t u r e t o w a r d s the audience. b r eath t h r o u g h y o u r n o s e and b l o w through your mouth t h r o u g h the cloth and you have a f l a m e of c o n s i d e r a b l e length. It is w i s e to do the b l o w i n g i n s hort puffs.

p a g e 9,

B y D o n a l d Demaine. E x - C o u n c i l M e m b e r of the O r d e r of the M a g i ( M a n . ) CT P r e s i d e n t of the M y s t i c A c a r d is s e l e c t e d f r o m the Seven (Dewsbury) p a c k b y a m e m b e r of the auds h u f f l e d b* ck i e n c e a n d is i n t o the p a c k w h i c h is th e n divided into two h e a p s a n d g i v e n to two a s s i s t a n t s to hold. T h e s e c a r d s are t h e n s c a t t e r e d f a c e d o w n all o v e r the s t a g e b y the two as s i s t a n t s . T h e p e r f o r m e r is b l i n d f o l d e d and a s w o r d is p a s s e d to him. O n the s p e c t a t o r n a m i n g the s e l e c t e d c a r d the p e r f o r m e r i m m e d i a t e l y stabs w i t h h i s s w o r d a m o n g the s c a t t e r e d c a r d s a n d o n r a i s i n g the s w o r d the s e l e c t e d c a r d is s e e n on the point. iOTHOD . A n y o r d i n a r y p a c k m a y b e u sed, but for preference one with a d e s i g n e d b a c k s u c h as an a d v e r t i s e m e n t . On any card carefully p l a n o u t a m o n g the d e s i g n s o me p a r t i c u l a r spot w h i c h y o u c a n b l o c k o u t w i t h p r i n t e r ’s ink. This blocked-out portion should b e a b o u t the sise of a sixnence. Care m u s t b e t a k e n i n d o i n g this, e s p e c i a l l y if the b a c k of the cards are r e d o r green. Whatever colour predominates, the b l o c k e d - o u t p o r t i o n m u s t b e in t h a t colour. T h i s a l l o w s f o r the c a r d to b e p a s s e d as an o r d i n a r y on e u n l e s s on e w e r e to comp a r e the b a c k s of them. I n v i t e two a s s i s t a n t s o n th e stage. H a v e the p a c k f r e e l y s h u f f l e d b y on e of them. H a v e a n a s s i s t a n t o n e a c h side of you. A f t e r c a r d s h a v e b e e n s h u f f l e d a n d h a n d e d b a c k to you, t u r n to o t h e r a s s i s t a n t a n d r u n quicklt t h r o u g h the cards, saying, *'You n o t e t h e y are all d i f f e r e n t ? " Secretly note p o s ­ i t i o n of the c a r d w h o s e b a c k y o u k n o w to b e m a r k e d a n d b r i n g it to t]ie top b y m e a n s o f the pass. T h i s c a r d is n o w f o r c e d on a s s i s t a n t o n y o u r o t h e r side, using whatever force you prefer. Th e w r i t e r p r e f e r s the k n i f e f o r c e f o r this as the audience can t h e n see w h a t is t a k i n g place. After card has b e e n forced, tho s p e c t a t o r is r e q u e s t e d to n o t e i t a n d to h o l d it to the a u d i e n c e f o r t h e m to see w h a t it is. T h e p a c k i n the m e a n t i m e ha s b e e n h a n d e d b a c k to the o t h e r a s s i s t a n t a n d the p e r s o n w i t h the s e l e c t e d c a r d r e t u r n s s u c h to the p a c k w h i c h is s h u f f l e d b y the assistant. H o l d i n g o u t y o u r h a n d s y o u r e q u e s t the a s s i s t a n t h o l d i n g the p a c k to d i v i d e it into two a l m o s t e nual p o r t i o n s p l a c i n g a h e a p on e a c h of y o u r hands. O n e a s s i s t a n t is t h e n r e q u e s t e d to select■ e i t h e r h e a p a n d the o t h e r a s s i s t a n t t a k e s the r e m a i n d e r .

Page 11.

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B y J o h n B, Ward, s'ellow of the I n s t i t u t e of M a g i c i a n s , L o n d (Life M e m b e r M a g i c i a n ’s Club, L--o nd.) ,Hon. Sec. M y s t i c Seven, D e w s bury) B F ?E C T

A p l a y i n g c a r d is s h o w n to b e t h r e a d e d on two l e n g t h s of g r e e n r i b b o n as s h o w n above. E a c h r i b b o n is p u l l e d b a c k w a r d s a n d f o r w a r d to p r o v e that the c a r d is g e n u i n e l y t h r e a d e d t h r o u g h the card. A n o t h e r c a r d of a d i f f e r e n t suit is t h e n h a n d e d o u t f o r inspection. In t h i s c a r d are f o u r slots of the same w i d t h as the ribbon. T h i s c a r d is p l a c e d in an e n v e l o p e a n d s e a l e d or in a R o t e r b e r g C a r d Box. Two s p e c t a t o r s are r e q u e s t e d to h o l d e a c h of the two ends of the r i b b o n w h i c h is t h r e a d e d t h r o u g h the cards. O n c o m m a n d of the p e r f o r m e r a c h a n g e t a kes place, the card w h i c h w a s p l a c e d in the e n v e l o p e or c a r d b o x b e i n g n o w t h r e a d e d o n the ribbons, w h i c h •are still b e i n g h e l d b y the two spectators, w h i l e the c a r d w h i c h w a s o r i g i n a l l y t h r e a d e d on the oBdjfch r i b b o n s is n o w in the e n v e l o p e or box. can be cards can be e x a m i n e d a n d the ribbons r e m o v e d b y the a s s i s t a n t .

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R e f e r to the diagrams. F o u r 1" slots are cut in two d u p l i c a t e T e n of Spades. The best m e t h o d of c u t t i n g t h e s e is b y m e a n s of a s a f e t y - r a z o r blade. C l a m p all f o u r cards t o ­ g e t h e r a n d cut as o n e so that the slots w i l l b e of the same size a n d i n the same position. Procure two y a r d l e n g t h s of s m o o t h f " g r e e n r i b b o n a n d also an e x t r a s i x - i n c h piece. The l a t t e r piece, d i v i d e d i n t o t w o , serves f o r the f a k e c a r d ( F i g . 2) T h e s e two short l e n g t h s ar e t h r e a d e d t h r o u g h the s l o t s a n d a n ­ o t h e r c a r d is t h e n g l u e d at the b a c k to f a s t e n the r i b b o n s a n d to h i d e the slots. The two y a r d l e n g t h s of the T e n of S p a d e s as in

r i b b o n are n e x t t h r e a d e d t h r o u g h one of ?ig.4.

P a g e 1 irjo If a R o t e r b e r g C a r d b o x is used, p r e p a r e such b y p l a c i n g the unprepared iueen of D i a m o n d s f a c e - d o w n in l o w e r h a l f of the box, c l o s i n g the cen t r e l i d over it so that b o x a p p e a r s u n ­ prepared. The f a k e ,ueen of Diamonds (*,ig. 2) is then p l a c e d over the t h r e a d e d Te n of Spades. A t a short d i s t a n c e the ribbons can be p u l l e d t h r o u g h the c a r d a n d the i l l u s i o n is perfect, r i b b o n s a p p e a r i n g to pass across f a c e of card. If an e n v e l o p e is u s e d i n s t e a d of the box, such is p r e p a r e d by c u t t i n g o ut the f r o n t a n d f lap of an envelope a n d i n s e r t i n g such i n s i d e a s i m i l a r envelope. The Q u e e n of D i a m o n d s (