BRITISH FAIR SWINDLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1936, Page 9

BRITISH FAIR SWINDLES

SHARPS AND FLATS. "Racecourse Swindles,” by Michael Fane, (says the London "Sunday Times”) is an amusing happy-go-lucky record of the old game of sharps and flats. The author introduces himself and one “Lofty” as soldiers of fortune who tour the roads of England making for the race meetings and big fairs. Jn their time they have used their wits to gel a living in various unorthodox ways, and apparently they regard what they call "Mental Telepathy" as their most ingenious trick. This is how it is done. On the course, they open operations by drawing a I crowd round their pitch, sometimes with a sham "riot,” or altercation, sometimes solely by patter. The I audience arc invited to write thoughts lon pieces of paper, whereupon the papers, including one written by a confederate are put in a hat. Then the trick-, a not particularly brilliant piece of chicane as these things go. ( but very effective for tipsters who announce "winners by magic” is un-

der way: — 1 draw’ out (ho confederate’s paper, and, unknown to the audience, another paper. Then, after calling out what 1 know is written on the confederate’s, I open the other paper to confirm my reading. See, in full view of the audience, what is written thereon, switch the two papers, and hand to the audience the paper that I know' without looking contains what I have called out.

I ain now in possession of what is written on tho paper hidden in my hand. I draw forth another paper, call out the message, open to confirm, switch the two papers, and am now in possession of another secret. So I carry on. one in advance every

I time. While tho audience are still marvelling. they offer their tips at 2/- a time. Barnum was right!