THOUGHT – READING TRICKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

THOUGHT - READING TRICKS

Thought-reading tricks are always fascinating, and amateurs like to try their hand at these because they are supposed to be easy, but as many of them require a "confederate ' and a good memory, it pays to rehearse until there is not the least chance of a misrepresentation. Some of the best tricks may appear too simple to take in anyone, but when they are well done they haffle the most intelligent. For instance, here is one concerning a cigarette case, which should be borrowed and the owner asked to show everyone present how many cigarettes there are in it. The confederate then turns his hack on the audience, the performer is called into the room, and immediately proclaims the number of cigarettes in th« case. This is what happens: — After the confederate has handled the case he puts it down on the table apparently quite casually, but the performer guesses the number of cigarettes by noting the position of the case on the table, i.e.: 'lhe top left-hand counts as one, the right-hand as two, the bottom left-hand as three, and the bottom right-hand as iour. When there are five cigarettes, the case is put in the centre, or near the centre. Supposing the borrowed case is empty, it is simply held in the hands, or if it contains more than live, it is placed on the table in similar position as before, but the confederate holds his hands behind his back, indicating the extra number, so that the positions on the table mean six, seven, eight, nine or ten. If this trick is well done, and it needs a good deal of rehearsal to disarm suspicion, it will be some time before anyone successfully "sees through it " If possible, thought-reading tricks should only be performed once during an evening, as it is more fun to keep people "guessing," and not give the secret away too quickly. OOO'OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO