Mind-reading act...

Press, 24 August 1976, Page 10

Mind-reading act...

When you perform a mind-reading trick, look as if you are really trying to read a person’s mind. Do not make distracting gestures, but remain serious and thoughtful. However, as this sort of mind-read-ing is a trick, don’t claim to be a real mind-reader. You may, though, look very mysterious Ask a friend to think about one of his hands. Say to him that you can tell him which hand he is thinking of. He must hold the hand he is thinking of to his forehead and concentrate hard. While he does this you will turn your back.

Your back turned, start talking to your friend. You want him to hold his hand to his forehead for about a minute, and as he hears your words he will forget to be impatient and will not put his hand down too soon.Say to him, “You must think harder. Harder still. You seem to be thinking of something else. Please don’t let your thoughts wander. Keep your hand to your forehead and think all the time about it.” When your friend has done this for about a minute, tell him to lower his hand. Then immediately

turn round and look into his eyes. Say to him thoughtfully, “You were thinking of your left hand,” or, “You were thinking of your right hand” — whichever is the correct one. The secret. The hand which your friend held to his forehead will be whiter than the other as the blood runs out of a hand when it is held up. As you turn around, you look quickly at his hands and notice'which is the whiter. Then you look steadily into his eyes and say which hand he was thinking of.