The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1909. II. SHAM 'CLAIRVOYANCE' : THE 'SILENT' WONDERS EXPLAINED

New Zealand Tablet, 2 December 1909, Page 1901

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1909. 11. SHAM 'CLAIRVOYANCE' : THE 'SILENT' WONDERS EXPLAINED

*d^rsMv r N tlio third 'canto^ of ' tiis 1 Samuel '\J»y ,l)F Butler wrote: -*J ' v/\ ' D tjess the pleasure is. as > great*, uri; ?-jr> sisß'i ' ' Of "being cheated -as tp cheat; \s#jp!<( As lpokers-pn'feel mos.t.idelight, jv-ju ~>n\ ■•■ at least perceive a, juggler's ;sleiglrb; v<ir-" , (p^fr^' . , And still , the less .they, understand; 1 iri^o™ > *$-<Tl,.T 1 ,. ' . Th> niore th' admire his 1 sleight of lfafid.''^^ ' ' ' -"_/'. ;~7" r ".-■ ;".,s. rr - ,--.. ,^b.,d »n^:\ A fair and frank professional entertainment 5 , , 0 , „ .even . of. the -alleged - « dairydyanY'lri 1 ' ! 6r ~- | thought-transference ' order, is a directs challenge V;£6rtl?eY intelligence of the onlookers, and, in some "of its , phases'/' a truly remarkable 'demonstration of the marvelipus'^ingenuijy.of the methods of ' high' ' stage con jiiring,, or . modern 'white 3 .- or innocent magic. But grave temptations rareplaced before 'the profession' by, the- fact: that; no? phase ,of their ( art is so popular and so profitable as exhibitions 3 '©* 3 the pseudo-occult. .'Many performers .fail: under -'the 1 strain' of this temptation and lay. claim to a ' mysterious or pre-''-terna'tural power or faculty or influence which they welP know. they, do not possess/ The result is to surroiVnd Madam This } or. Professor ■ That with a 1 halo of ' the' n occult/ c witJK which -they, exploit -the weak, the incautious?', famj^tie=>gul^ lible, to their own profit, .and .to tli'e; sp?ea<l ( .of superstition -which'-'is - gravely '"discounted 'b"y',o;ae^ o£ "the I .Ten*? Commandments. It 1 is, no doubt, part of ' thei professional"- 1 conjuror's art to del.ude and - comrrfoh -'consent, . smilingly. 'accepted; as spokenorn *a BittK-' sense. But the frontier-lines of morality 'is 'surely'" "- crossed" when he, .in all apparent seriousness;' T la J ys ji clajim %o 'J an i o^" 1 * or Preternatural power -which he d6esl l #bt y p"ffs ! sess,' 1 " ! and that, too, in circumstances "caltfulated'Tii- tne'-'highest^ degree — a^id .obviously intended — to mislead "and" + dedeivl 0 matter '\vhich"easfly may, and -often -does,- issue- hi giving |afrpsh^fillip, to a form* of superstition (thaft j'siopposedl to" fright' treason^ arid tire 'divine law. "The mischief done by "^ itinerant ' super ior.i,wjl|ohes i^nd fortuneitellers-ofthis kind, especially amonfs .iwjpressiqnable,- merabe^s p£ (fche/sex* that fis called gentle, Snakes 'i£' desirable" that; those who are capable 2 ,pf junvoiling these miscalled / occult 'my.ster.iesf should imake ,< i ?( clear htm the? inninHlii^afJjfhW' WrfiffiJ^w &di&imswtiyiAl*> \vr |in*erfsifi^Hk ( he i foagiSal Effect .-and- torjwhat^rQxt^ntupre- 1 ■ . ' 9ri ? I* n our gft^e the reader a fair general ide| of thc^nj^^aries of so-called clairvoyance and thought-j^Ai\ansfeifejnco^<:Bicn-are -performed -by-spoken "codes". Before" 'T'gropeeding to the-6stieu^*^ri£|f)of '^■M l^ airv %'«»ce, we may supplement - o\ii 7: - / former* explanations" by referring 4 repiaiSJitiid Jl quSstiton^4* > ' remark each time to the g^eaaiy or supposedly^r^Jujdfpldedjq'SUbiectV'- /as&istant, or aaiKoyant. a -, r A,^-4lh^^^on/[cisTtli_eJcase T (KSre3¥^ sidel-ation'^a furnisned.otir . He^lei\'§..well-know-n' i^practice of versf rapid^y^oU^tigja^jjigijb^rj of^iitiiele^OfjoffiStfiSiiudi^euc^, in a-liaT, 'and taking tliem (usually) upon the platform. We prefer to describe the remainder of this familiar

bit PpiCj '[clairvoyance ' in the words of ©W alriadsrbe^nr^ojvtjdbh^^ts^aii^^ ned in people's pockets is few and that they can be easily classifiGd«'''<Thi's' dra'ssfinc-atien'^s «B*te&aßa io t^ Sfl 1^ aWaiges men%"f6r futitfiftg %liem l{ b'ff ln l{f a f > prearranged'^'seMes^^ By takih'gmem^o'tft' pf -thii€a't^sn'r'a#6i''dan<;e^ wiW p iaiat } pYea arrarige-d'-seri'es" ihS^taski^s^eas^/ Snd t£ i# is^a^'friffioimbM thiiig'th'ati'theyS'shotildabe^'takefi^rio" 1 the f flatfoVm 'Md ruli ove^in thtfifdc&'bf^allstliei attdiefiee^^Th'e^cfintiWtfed 1 'repetition -ofJthfe4fe¥a^f'irfei*gWl?«^d^!aiiSP««^fe#ilß&t'*-aß'Bfifi6 prearranged s-eriesors&follonved-^ha^n^ strikibgw and* baffling effect-.niTo^v'dfopoiti'rfo codetiicorrver-sa'tfon^oivben/'s'owething out of'-.the-'^seriess'lias-'no -beod^alt^-with^ido'e^ tubt , detract' froimthe'Stiukingi'efflecrf; of the| refpeti%ionPof -the: word'«Tllis ??*'■ in severaL 1 diverge '«ases) fblldwrngoeachiiotlienp It<as,"jhoweyeivnot ne'cessary?.tha:t the i articlesr fshdulds'b'e collected dri a .laifge-numbert'indiitakeni upi.to ,tliGjplatfofm^l The r 'eagernesS):\yitlLiwhichKihemberalof «the audlence^pressf things -upon the director., Asthe.'iWailksiamong-Jitheim. gives^him 'an topportunityoofi.jnakingJfup'iailshortiiseTies.cofjiartioles as! ihe take's ' them; from.jthe^handsnpr/jffering-.thein., ; He/>takes them.«in series, t \StartsJjthe;. spriesn fip.de jjyith, , the ; . 'clairvoyant,, , stops it whenjie, 'Cpmes^to, ai jdifficuljbyjj ian^.-re^erts. t,p.,jthe 'fuller code.from timer to» l time. ri .P ! r / ql^minaryi .arrangement' or, commuriicat[pni.is;iiQt ,always ; necessary. .The director can aj,a,r{fcicles of dress in, a certain order. No jmatt^r-, whether he, begins Pl \\7th n brooch, .bonnet, , watqhchain,, > or,,an ,i^mb,rella, , he, will, Sways' be ,ablp to follpw in the series, and .; the spectator/ t will, not detect, tliat he always runs in the same order, provided. always that he,. does not begin at the same poini/s^;and- r groyided also that he does not continue the scheme at too great a length.'

-6 -V * S, ''J By memorisation "of suitable codes, any two smart youths could, in a short time/ l perft>rm illusions that would baffle the uninitiated and inexperienced/ 1 ln~, £]je ■„higherclass ' demonstrations ' of the present day, however, the leader is able, without speaking awprd,'to convey information his. blindfolded' '^ssistaUj^'Wliich ?eiiabl'es the latjfcer to give a' minute Ascription of 'any, article, and,,, even .to read extracts from books or . majiuscripjfc', I'here, js^'an artistic .finish', and a look, of ,'gjenuiiie Avizardi;y about/ these ""sleights' which, to those 'not' in tlie, secret,^ have an impressive look and (so' to. speak)' aii imcaiiny.'/cel. Nevertheless it is all performed by code, as_in the spoken means of communication described in detail in our last article-^but no rearrangement of the alphabet is required, and, instead of "giving the information to the blindfolded lady by word of mouth' (in' the shape of the innocent-sounding questions already related),' it -is conveyed' by electric wires, or by tubes, or in other: ways to' be' detailed "hereunder. The electric communication is set up .in various ingenious and unsuspected ways. (1) Heller's 1 plan is, in ■ substance, thus described, by his- friend and- assistant' in a clever little book; Rellerism: A confederate; j sat Jamong > the spectators; near the centre of -the theatre^ and the-wiresof an electric battery, were 'connected'- with «hisi:chairVJ the: 'electric pushbutton being under 'the front? parti of>xthe'seatt T Heller'gave the cue to the. coded 'set in whic.h> the < article 1 was; fits number, etc, by some natural - movement ofi hist body or arms. (For -instance,, a glance' upwards to r the right might be made- to mean number 1; .a glance ; straight upwards 1 for number 2; a glance- up wards li to, t the left 1 for; number 3; horizontal: glances to right, . fron^ /and: left, for numbers 4, ,5, and 6 respectively ; downward- glances to right, > front, and left for numbers 7, .8, 1 and 9 respectively; and stroking the chin.ifor 0. . The-:<h'ands, ifingersyi arms; rand legs" are also. organised ihto'^i conjure.r's signalling corps) u We will now- return' to.Heller. , sHaving',ibys Having',iby some -s'uchynatural and unsuspiciousi.imovements, secretlyi-.telegEaphedv the information, his confederate promptly interprets* the -signals, and, pressing the electric button under the seat, transmits the message" to the blindfolded clairvoyant on the stage- as I a fainLt, I tap : tap-tapping,, / ,af.te5 u ;the ,rMorse r or, other,, / prea^r.ang^d , sysiem^ ( „T? h e' J tap I pijQg ( was\ J too' gentle to' be, .heard by any,,6f the^^udieuce^.butcojildj be bpth.hearct, ?»5S[ f^* fai' i ' h ?' '"Maha^ma.^^v^Th^^re.sp^lw-riter %i 4,', l ia. pr ) vyat j e )J .' i e'xposu,re t . > f , i demQnstr,ations M used,", for,, this, purpose,' which s .gave an alijiost p .im[|er,c^pti,ble, i ,click, a^ .backr .pf a'.chai^ gup clpsejo/his ear^/.ln the.^case; 'j^f a/.la'd^J'he sounder, pr jbappin^.j j.nstrument a i^ oj|gii hidden within ? e^°B?X c W, { ?ealn^ent],pf '.position s'ouiids of fahithess. are easily .perceptible)"^ ' ■""">■ il-.iifn iin.r -iv i^ juao 'ai •iiMii* e.ia'nli vDocJoti iu'd !,1-k, w s^"(2) Here is 1 an'otlier > Wd-»^bw' >^ar < s'rfi r ore o 'c'6mmbn mmhb'd ofi'traiismittm'g' 1 -' silent ''^inWageS^t'o *Ti^ J claifvoyan-B'-co^jufer^hot direct^ %he; ipeis6Tnian l c^'a«p'ense^ f wath2H^lle'f r-sr -s r'es'ortv df ' vv a f j cSnf gdefate' « jft)£to& aitibng 7-611'e"' 'ahidieri^e, - 'diid a-6t 4 s ' W-^ii^b^'A *Wimß ' to/I^^^aiktfll« cM^aied^Hhsma^d^c^per^ele^tic^Wrrg^^ inside 1 his tiioiis'eryegs^M^nsae^iTs bf6Bt§/^a'n«ib f 6Bt§/^a'n«i doiine'cted :•,'•■ U) Halt m'j. Kji'i 3rth7%*iiyrl ■• ?r -loin ■• , .;\.,|(*i, i

liMH^t*M|s|3 on the hee^g)* &lejgia3§iiafip .*K&arf£ns down the passage of the theatre among the audience, and makevele6tflucr><corita&t i^*ha%wt?tbjftkpiteisefe': or«*l£b6ns of copper rconcealedatfenfeatK* w & r a o^ustagea^ffatf of.AheseMGopp^r3iiifbbptt^ai!*%ttaxaied{^lecMcaw-ire^wleaaiSff either fdireotl^to'oth-^^lifldfolded Jadybtfri $•&&<&&!&■ j^tf theosignal isiseritottfls&me <&tke* per&WiJbe&uTdvthe^oefiW or.,^beneath2-*h©?x«tage/i <fc6 ifcorfveyiiifche-' message/ toi thWdlairvoyarff isiipiiSnye#f: themmethfcdsvstog h& ■ desoribedifliereuniderlq tCDnntHeiJinsldetcdfr htfewesifjn witrf thifc awn, & or uiheh c bufarer *afieo a nt^lectriciic6hta-c^r j Ihe usual press-butfoivußj However? dt^enseaffwithf/aittdistHo j spring, which "separates the' ttowfeleetnic ( wiresv?bei6g foresee* I together.^byxfayaiinjal-fMidovfnmwpixsibxi&'offioTeffient-JCofclthe 3 hand- ois arm, the circuiVis«closea-, ittndiigiemfeagagtf » duly: • tapped, out, accordingly© iJhe'icode ofcl signals a'dopt&lh in the- hearing! of i -fehef fclaff voyairirfor. tlie ; behind ■thenvingsToßanua^ care£ullyx{arrauged)jpositionicgEi!espondmg ■ to -the prompters «boxv(but sbetter3iconcealed):,G Jor- • underneath., the ; stage!.* ? Tjhuspfopmnsiance, v*rhen/j*Heirm»-gician.seesttlie-timef'or.inumb^r ofya^wafcehj *QiWtbe number, of a bank-notq^Hpr.theiidatgjjof^aicoin^orfa sgt pf n^~itials^ ' or - a ' n » me » ?T? T •»»* jtliing-CT iai-ticle^hatsoevar^hatiha.s^AW coded ;by r .hun,vhp.^as ll tlsiit I siin XLK Ly rj to. pres&^Se ,tw,p .together,, as inducted*, a £ertain no pEe ? axajan£ed {i ii,umbe^ ,'^f, . times, and the clairvoyant , .pjo.mptWe.cgi.ve^ d iM e FR r^ the r .signal,,at the other eriH otthe r line. X In, ca& the signals are sent tp. the concealeld" ; assistant' 2 oft%B^nMli % W the signals to , "the. c^nySvinV iHfonf I '^ qtiSnPVi^e&i r^T^y^ l^iid. si^h^- VliiVTb $&\ # > ite o^ffi6ieilt i 'wl?ere the Uin&foldiiig.'ft; v *afeSj 11 WM«3fl W words through', a 1 >p^aki^4ub^ f r p'r . (by^a'.delic&'e hidden' telephone', .thel redeiver •of 6o'iicea'l¥d' o in ? the f3£ighback of -the la'dy's'dhair^'close f6 ir he 7 r''eVfV / or 'VigTlt°iiTher , ear, masked 'by^g'ener^us^tre^s^df 'liW <& l ftik'-; 382% d) £ "Hy a strong thread" or'^iee'e of^gu^^paysinf^dirfcfily^it'o f iSie lady/s hand or conneVfed^with^^'^^plng'instrifmfenV fitted in her hair/or'.toiichiHg-'her'^fpot (tW'goW'-offfi& i ho6t'''beiT[g m this Matter 'case 1 cut; one of several other methods which<'>'itwis"'notfoheeeßsary to describe here. The public Haste in such exhibitions demands' that'the supposed: clairvoyant Bhall^bei-oftithe! gentler sox." But >la'dies>!expert l rirnJrcode-:wor.k 7110*1^0 vibe, ?,mefc with every • 1 Monday umbrning. ru liideedp-ibheyf are 1 ■&< t decided and highly prized ' orarity. ,-^oAnd :the,-useLof.(the[speaking-tube or-'telephon'^ enables two maleicpnjwrersTrfbrjia male ' conjurer with a-maleassistant^to. givei.thejipublicTta. K satisfying performanc&fwithoutithelcost and^tronble of (engaging a lady expert 1 in. the wiles andLways^of^this deceptiy^er^art and craffc. (3);ilnTnblac]fboardi.and 'Ceirtaiji^ other /.alleged 'tests' 1 of: clairvoyant- poweryushe?<l ! ady(nis k also u at,. times enabled/ by Hihe> aidJ'df'ra smallrr'inirroiiMcpncealed.rin^gloye or fan, -to see ' questiousu and; figures * written, on -.tiienboard. In ;this> case.the'.blindfolding'iis.-irfaked.v'nthei lady.. sits , with her' back -towards; thej boar.d, .^and >ib,olds>[tjaejjiniErori> c up E^p herM forehead, ->"asa i£ilw-rapt^ irioxanxipusg-.thpught.- < f ,(C%r&? ' sharpers'; we;fmayiiad4p asi ai'jwafafingr tb^jbsavelling.^adejs; ekefout j somef.,of sthek> fraaids xwith rjfciny £mj[rV l orsi.fi^e4'i ( ija' rings, bowls, of, (-pipes',! s.>6r iattacheji- toj thei a u^jer tsj^e the table. > But , that rds ( ano|heii jtale,ithat \do§§[ nqbj con^ejn - us here. Only£i)tho'se^.'thafc^make . sheep x jof : tfeemsjel^ese^ill und:many^willingto,sheaf them-)^^ TThe simpl^'atta,cH.9ien i ts of speaking-tubesj telephones,- itapping^nr^hanisin^est/j.^j are usually fixed! to- the ' stage '-olairvjoy ant while , the ppnjurer i is blindfolding hen,-. orrthisiSs done under. M ct»yer,Lofi sundry, passes, 1 with which s "the m performer 'pteteiidawtoafmQsmesise. or hypnotise Jier f ..' » "Wihenvthev'secQndfcsighiJijflls^a^cejch^s : been brought^to; a'i<close/nthe j-m'agician-ijjemQXes} iihe^andages from 'theli'clairv^yant's'^eyes^iimakee^a.gp^e^n^e.^by further- passes-, to larou'sex her iroinpihe : mfis?ai9rio2 ofeohyp- , notic. i condition, and, t thia:iiibitjipfjiCQjMedy J , detacnesothe+wires^orAthEeadlor Aube.^&he,iitads& r^seiofrpra j her'ichair, ibbws^withifa- sera.phic>}stagevsm.Uen]bPi tfeg^j^u^ij enfce,land)ipasses?lbehipd>ttheaiTCingSp Jiitishe'lis g%r£§g£ apt I to<'"sho\^-iheKnba6k&itoothev,aiidie?ic,e'jidth»e t-eftdsjjfil ?fe§}§>?2<k, S of J wires- imiglrb;?g3ve t tliam lfen? 9 my§ter f y x { j- f& & T^p, squaßingrahdvcubihgooftcriii^bßrAc.allftdxpu^rfey <tfeg>iau^.jpn^. I are'isecrQtly>peßformfaid3%9WiCQnfeiea.ledf>4tsiis^aj%t! fe^jp4a4ll4' j scenesqiliHeiUsesvirfor ithecipur-Ffo'gpi Jftga^ithmi^Jgble^jniwhe^e I th r e3wholei&thi<ng>ris (ireafls&|&a.de3l[ qq fea^Beak* a^dralin.psj{ I instantly aodassible4tiandj he.rfeomjttJinififttgs n t^ft r^ijitfj^uthp 1 suppbseSbfpddsessor ofcfttbJesMeii^i giJfosPft s^qpjnd o si J igj\t'Bm^ lh ift perfocmanoe^ ofnsunduy o'Jwpnd^liiil arei?.6ivgineered?ion-,o3tin&lar |i®s. .sa^e j^ad-, iifg^ Wff frobkEQrfato'aiiy^ isf'm'aiiia'ge'dbin^i sfay^s-a^rduplicate book be'ingffingthe HSa'ds^ r th& feQnfeaetafe r ctfncealed3{fa;bouinobthe,f lebage".. j fl FSkSa* tt bfi r pKßj [^thß-^o 'P»ge-s9ieon^tantlswirepeatßd,i caa also* 1%" » fo >f p¥6,v'iae : details. 110t r «ra9S« odi oj wont ai ffoidw :■:?-'; -, f- -y- )-.r •^^.»— --U X ■ r - r, „ .

'1o myj9jMyi;n£fteseGtsda*o p.Eoiincedjibyjetheoiok lojjvjng^jmeanfc: l(a).v?Miemb.fersoo^ tHes.»:udienoej9byo-reqxiest,i wriJSejj questiOnsoPnoPlr^ar^dP-adsjfi keepldtihe t questions j [oreturn L-fch.e^pad& and jlatar^jbnjlcstarJJeda when^tHe cla'ir-j voyant, e.cdvere.d ; 9(Up«dn;9a -sh^et, sEeadsiaouto&he questions,! crjeditsathem ( to thejright.xfperson'By an^B,answersv!(or>i;essaysi toi answer )(Lthem«ff,t The3rrfare.ijnotnawar&3lthat^ inf wri<ting ? f they iunconsciouslyxi WtTjoteb jarscaßblonndXiplicater/of '.-their. { quesi-; tion, 4 !thati..thesclaiKV.oyant TeftdiSifthiaxduplicate^wby -the. aid; ofhaitinyfflainp^pp.underj coyer^ofi J)heiisheet f pjand {that the riame-iqf iiJie>ciwriten, ;biua.t!!<3least- hi&r outherqlocatioh' iijurthe audiencei/sare-)sufficientlyicirotedronnthe[jp.adi-by the.i assistautSf as.'it is bejng'Vbroughtnon ,the.cstagfe,tior^by the ,use?.of ■pajieri' ofi differjent, cfiloissrafon differerit partstis>foithe t theatrej(pr different i xojwß-iof'j seats niiir aohialhYov(b).[Tn,ilfche<Thighestrland exceptionali^reacihe^if ofi the,! fart? fswonderfiul 1 i f are i ralso obtained^ bynnean l s odf Ja/f^ystem -ibf^ signals based i upoit i the trained! bapadity ,of fthe .cbnju'rep'.an'd the^Glairvoyantitoicotint secretly' atHhe same"',spee 3 d (sa^nat "the > ( ra*te^ 'of -'common tiikei,' such 'as is ! dorie lo at J ;pi r arib-|&aying J 'practice'-'f6r the purpose 'bf 'setting 'the' ! &me}'. wi yAfter4'a' 'brief °practiceof 'an hbur'bf-soj two pefsoris"'bf a'vef'agb l intelligence — 'evert- though nbt practical musiOia'ris^feould^th'us transmit l to each- otheraiiy" number 'iip to 1 lO'Hvitfi' miliSfling 5 accuracy". Nb'tififeationis' given by" word I,'1 ,' head; '' or' ot'h'erwise \ (a'sj abqve^-when the cou'n^ 1 is' 'to' begiiiy and when 'a particular figure is to' be stopped at. And this system can be. extended to an indefinite number of } acts , and ]; objects ; . in groups of (say) ten, ( as, /alread^iexplainea/jin^bur^ j^receding 'article, when dealing Wjitb.Vjbhe ' spoken codes ( j p ( f * syage clairvoyance. This ingenious deception, r w,as^intr^ucedl, in 'P^,ris .some years ago by / professor ' Verbeck. anji \^ademoi | selle*iM > athilde, > ' and was repeated ; with much. , success,^y^.tiui^al and jMarie^Greville before .bewildered audiences in^^nglahd^ arid America. Those of.qur readers, who may ;b,e,, desirous, of getting, at the details of this sensational bit .of aciijig Biirlingame's little; brqch.,«7-ej.,entitled Tricks in>Magip, Illusions, and Mental Phenomena. r ;• r ?,1,.,<> ■ < i•- , „- . >, ■ . • ' .---.!*.:! i <i *,-.'; • ', ' ,- > (6), Some sensation isy> during almost) all such performances, created by the use-of-local information' -about various sitters secured by the -in advance! of sthe perform? ance, or, during the .performance, by i confederates scattered about in different* 'parts- of the houses "Wen conclude this summary description "of a- great .'current, deceit by quoting some of the methods r> of: the> Baldwins — methods -.which _are, to this hour,' being o utilised; dn part by> a- 1 fortune-telling 'clairvoyant' that ihas 'madey.^nii' as:> making, a great impression upon numberless .igullible-Tvomenoin; every part of Australasia (tve> quote "sfronii'jpp. i3OB-311r of.' :Carrington's Physical Phenomena'' of 'jS'piWi'uafosm')':—^'-During the early part of the performance' *a' number ?df "slips of- ipaper are distributed among •'ihe'iiaudience, Jwithi the. 1 request, that;, they write on them' Questions ißUch : as qV> iWhoi stole my. iwatch ?' ' They ' are -then • asked? to"i 'fold ''.them': upland ; tplace them? dn their pockets, l ! an'd "keep rthieir -niinds on=.t"heicontents.i., They are also requested' to* sign >-their if ull name' on! the slips.. During the latter -part b£ itheriperformanc'e, Mrs. Baldwin, is brouglrlrupon the stage, dti'-ai supposed .-.'^hypnotic." state. She st"afts r by skying i-''-T have^an impression; it comes from the centre of : the i hbUse; 1 it f Ss;from<~ g Jairies Brown ;;i.ei wishes to know who "stole " his 7p"6'cket-book'.i' iMr k 'Baldwin ft now asks ' for * the' slip, r ->and Mrsi tßaldwinu either .idescribesy . •or givesthe' initials of'-thje person nvlioVstole-} the pocket-book, probably ls tellin^"^ wHenr.it wasVstoleny ands ■ the ..amount of money dt v contained^r^ln^this m'annerdsha answers -three; -or four, q'tiestipns,^ when ishesappeWffrtoYbe //.chi'lled.>' ' i . s <■ A piece of cloth is r thtbwn overfrhei, 'andesheianswersjrthe rest) of the questions^ 'andj'prbbablyodescfibes some xecentumurder.! The 'secret 6f ; >ttis f feat.is ? iaß folfowßtifiAmongst,- the r audience are-placed four^or^-'fivepcoilfede^ates-, whdotake; slips .of, .paper, 1 but' instead of writirfg qtues£ions;fJtheyrftake>ecopiest.of r 'tho questib'ifs that^scte wtitteii? byiibhose»drouhd>lthe"m7'.givingji^the' row*- and tKe' r 'ntintbef f'df fthd>«featr; a-ndisitifeviib,eyx^annot>Tiinake> oW'tn^namejUhfy^Qgfye'raodes^f^^ Tblese^sli^ stfe'^a'ssed- : ''tb> r the>fatten^a4itstTwbeni tHey i collect th# r p:effi£2s rt andHhl>%fl)!all tffbretSKtfrom iwhichsther^lips^re-. tbrri'J^Thgy a^e f ta-k6!n ttf ]&r&.eißal&wm; ahd>iardist)fis,ltnadei ofith'em^witH sueneaiYsWersTtag'theyl seß-Gfit.ol(JiiV\Sben proßsiblejrp r oBsiblejr iriforma-iHon ta oP^6s^ fViehldg fsriobtaiAedo i&ddi'biona'iuinf qm ntatidiof r 'iS lf> ofeeainedt<by feiterfgnitttb icoiifiden&e thenmanage*) of vi 'treasuT^r*°6f 'House. -B-Por instairce',roifbßome t person f. whetf 9 ctfekeb)«telte{tiiei-*r§asui!erlthat4(hei has lost; soirieT article') And thatilhebisi-gqkig ftoiiask iB/tldiwjufciftbqiit! itjythe treaisureroaaaakes.laonote qfii^hjgj)^and als^o stbe^jsejjttf the> personqbuyaWnaifooiey^^l, o^s^pß.al^Mjjn,^ uses ):^his informatiw>{oo{^askg4iichangß, r M ! fi eg#entj# giy^ to^'ejc^ son3mbuyi^g.i x s.e. 9^,3ofi^ ;1>! ;a e ,dpUai; bjll a tb.« number^^f which is known to the ticket agent, or a half-dollar, of which he knows the year, etc. A note is made of %nY number- of-the^ticket-to-the-purchaser-of— which- this marked- • chanfe* ii^*°gs ! en7»^ndc» I »lai^iabi6am'jathfiM'pj3rformai|ideJl »vt geuWmlm^i'<H^n% thutqi^he^A

<H rfjso/orfi JJSfii, .bite -ml el ado-bog s'olqrefk in (>->.- n^upfehas in.foijmgd^him f cor i re.cj;ly i aw,hen. sjie-jstaiedjiithat he; had^n^higjP^c.ket^a,, dollar &ill jn ;iso aiunajbgr 9f>tw,hirh wftßfw ftBf Q7£sJ4j4:sk andj ; anpsker,,gens]eman is,' eq,uatly>isiirort;sed to n 'Sß..inf,qrmedf thatfche has^in^s^ppckigt a^alfrdpllaryrof tte>i date „ofo ^lg§2l ,,^ The^ J i ji ar6 : , r jgiyj§p.<i c as /; 3ifospQ^aiy?.Qiiß tes^s/'jvan.dj go.--, appear cs^la,p^ R mp^eiftem^rjcajiijle^rt fßcfove Mra. 3 BaJdwin )r; goesJ on{jfcoj > fche'stagejsh,e- conceals in> ker ,dre.ss theplist ofi 1 questions,; b/utfisheJcomniAtsp;four;-.o;R Ive^rofi there to r f rftemjory, awhichTishe^givesnfirsitao oWihenjo these! are «jexhausted, she hashthe.jclothl thrown, over j her,j<-> which i gives her an iitoTcqnsult -the* list. ]r> For) eadh one.ibr-'twb questions i are^worke r di upsiby 'thevcbrifederates, forlthe^star test [ of. tithe >fevening!i iTliese.t usually re'iato''to somergreat local (sensation, rsuch' as-*a'j?murder,'i'6r»'a;tra,rltt-&d accidents uißyi this<<method- it sisiobviousthat'^aj tremendous amount <of (sensation canilbe>produce'dy -limited onlyby/ tlYe skill i o£ i (the performers.^ Still fuither< [information'' can iibe obtained by>< having a;ilady :or' -gelitle^an^cbrifederaW rii&k'e a ''systematic r canvass' J of- l the tbwns* where^the^p/eVfoTriier intends playing '(■».- pp'P '3l2^lß)^' ' 'If will 'hardly' 'be" 1 necessary for me 1 to describe J a ] 'performance; 1 of' the^'-Bald^vms'^in any further' 1 detail; : as the "actual working 1 but ■'of "the I 'tricks can ■ 'be 'easily .imagined'. rr u \ li The' l m'etli6ds'; l 6'f /J obtaining information -are so ) 'ri : u'merbus/'"aiid; the 'cq'des^ 'employ ed 'sb ingenious, that' ! it i's | practically' impossible 1 / for 'the"average person to "detect "the fraud 'th'at^is'^invaTia'bly practised; in- 'exhibitions r s"uch.'as v these.'' 1 " H ; ' 4^' v r) '''"' " !: "■ * n(! ' -<>, , , •„„, . .., iiiii.ii i f,,ii ii. ..,<£,. . i; i, „ },,.„