Here is one of those rare effects that have an anticlimax but become greater because of it. The base of the trick, or the addition part, is not, by any means, a new idea. Around this, however, Mr Baker has woven a bit of chicanery which dresses the problem in a not soon to be forgotten guise.

A spectator is chosen for the problem, and is handed a folded paper upon which the performer has scribbled something. Showing a large size slate, the performer hands him a chalk with the request that he write down a line of figures as they come to mind. Immediately under this row the performer jots a row and the spectator follows with a third. Then the performer finishes quickly by writing a fourth and fifth line. Drawing a line underneath, the spectator is handed the slate for adding. The total is read aloud and shown. Opening the folded paper, the spectator finds prophecied the correct total as was reached! So far nothing original has happened but wait. The performer shows the back of the slate on which has been inscribed the letters of the alphabet, each letter followed by a numeral from 1 to 0 (set-up on page xx). The spectator is asked his first or last name. Substituting letters for the figures of the problem’s total, this spectator’s name is found to be revealed by that row of figures!!!

It will be realized immediately by many of my readers that this also makes a valuable effect as a publicity trick with a pad of paper. Although it will puzzle a mathematician, and it will confound magicians who know only the addition effect, the mechanics are so simple that it practically becomes an impromptu stunt.

First you must know the name of the person with whom you are going to work the effect. It may be either his first or last name, so long as it isn’t more than six letters long, in which case another name is secured. On the back of the slate or pad have the alphabet and numerals written as per the chart.

Before the test, write down the name of the person, and with the chart, substitute the letters for figures. If the name were HARRY, the letters would mean 81885. This is all you need to know before starting. On a piece of paper write the five figures and place a 2 in front of them making a number prophecy of 281885 for the spectator to hold. Now add 2 to the last figure of the number representing the name of the person, in this case changing the number to 81887. This number is your key number to be remembered. If the last figure of the original name number is an 8 or 9, this rule holds good although adding 2 affects the last two figures of the number instead of the last only. If the number were 71288 it would change to 71290 by adding 2.

Present the problem by handing the correct person the folded slip to pocket. Without showing the chart side of the slate or the pad, have him write a row of five figures. Have him put down the same number of figures in the row as there are letters in his name, although you don’t tell him this. Thus, in this case, you have him write a row of five figures. If the name were John, he would be told to write four. You quickly put down the second row under his, and write the key number you have memorized. He writes the third row and you write the last two. The rule that governs the writing of the last two rows is the ‘nine’ rule relating to the top and the third lines. Thus, in writing the fourth line, you watch the first line and put down figures which, added to the figures directly above each one, total nine. If the top row is 63052, the fourth line will be 36947. The fifth row is written while watching the third row and the same rule applies. Then the line is drawn and the spectator adds the problem.

The resulting sum will be exactly what you have prophecied on the folded slip he has pocketed. That’s the first climax. Now explain that you will go further and that there is an unknown force or power at work when the spectator jots down his numbers at random.

Ask him his first or last name as the case may be. Then turn over the slate or pad. On it is the list of letters and figures as listed here.

You may remark that you have numbered the letters over and over, somewhat as is done by numerologists. Don’t say “as done (exactly) by them” because numerologists leave out the zero in their computations. There will be, in each case, one more figure in the total than there are letters in the name. Say, therefore, that you will use only the correct number of figures as they were written down in the total. Counting from right to left you cross out the first figure. He names the first letter. H. The figure after the letter is 8, so you write H under the 8 in the total. He names the second letter. A. The figure after A is 1, so A is written under the second figure in total. This continues until finished and the name of the spectator assisting is seen to coincide exactly with the total of the problem he helped assemble!!

The presentation of this effective idea may be varied by using two slates. One contains the chart, while the other is used for the problem. Start by having the spectator who assists put the chart slate (without it being shown) under his chair, or in a safe place. Now you write something on one side of the slate and say it is a prophecy. Don’t show it but continue by having the problem written on the other side. When the total is read aloud, turn the slate over to show your prognostication is correct. Now have the spectator take his slate and show the chart. Ask him the first letter of his name. He says H. Ask him what figure is after the letter on the slate. He says 8. Then you openly write H under the first 8 on your slate. Continue in this manner, which is very effective to the audience, as they don’t realize you know the name beforehand and it is fascinating to watch the name build up under the total.

Although, at the start, this stunt may appear a bit complicated, I doubt if anyone will have trouble understanding and making it work if they will just try it out on a piece of paper to get the idea clearly in their minds. Many who know the nine principle of the addition are thrown off still because even that part is not done in the same order as the old trick. The smart ones generally look for adjoining lines to total nine, disregarding separated lines.

There are but two operations before presenting it; changing the name to figures, followed by memorizing the key number. Try to use the last name whenever possible.