Natural looking methods for the selection of a book page and word are seldom seen. With the following method, the principle of a recent illusion, and an older die and frame trick, has been brought into play, and provides a most perfect way of getting to the proper page. Some of the complicated methods seen should always be performed in a show where there is an intermission. Then one could start the selection before intermission, during intermission perform all of the intricate and complicated means of selecting the page, and after the intermission finish the test. By doing this, the audience will be spared all of the involved ways of merely finding a page in a book. For the ones who agree with us, the following idea has been evolved and thoroughly tested.

The mentalist makes either a prediction on a slate, or cleans two slates for a spirit message. Slate or slates are laid aside, and a book or dictionary shown. A length of ribbon is picked up and handed to a spectator. The performer holds the book and the spectator holds an end of the ribbon in each hand. He brings it over the pages of the book which the performer is holding by the ends, and is told to pull the ribbon down between the pages of the book, somewhere near the center. The slate is picked up and the book handed to someone. This person opens the book at the ribbon, adds the page numbers together on the left hand side, and counts down to that word. IT IS THE WORD PROPHECIED BY THE MENTALIST, OR IS FOUND WRITTEN BY SPIRITS ON THE INSIDE OF THE SLATES !

There is a bit of preparation and practice necessary for this feat, but for those who try it and use it, we can assure a stunt that can be done anywhere with only a moment’s study of any book. Get a spool of spring steel piano wire #3 at any large music store for ten cents. Cut off a piece of wire several inches longer than the book. At one end of the wire twist a loop and stick the other end of the wire through this. This makes a noose which can be pulled fairly tight. On the other end of the wire fasten a small ring which will fit over the end of your fingers. Paint this either flesh color or black, wire loop and all. You also require a piece of ribbon about two or three inches longer than the book, and about half an inch wide.

To work, lay the wire between two pages of the book, off center towards the back. The running loop is out at one end, and the ring at the lower end. The wire should be long enough, so that when you have a loop about three-quarters of an inch in diameter at the top, the ring at the other end is against the pages at the bottom. The ring should be made from stiff thin wire, but not spring wire. You have added together the page number figures on the left hand side, counted to that word and memorised it. Either write this on a slate and cover with a flap, or make a straight prediction. Bring the book forward, holding the right hand at the outer edge (edge nearest the audience : loop end) and riffling through the pages as you do so. Riffle through before a spectator, stopping however before coming to the pages with the wire between. Have the ribbon in your left coat pocket. Hand it to someone. Hold the book between the hands, each hand covering one end of the wire. Ask the person with the ribbon to insert it between the pages anywhere, but by pulling the book slightly towards you the ribbon goes in ahead of the wire.

Before this you have made your prediction on a slate, or shown the slates empty and placed them on the table. Now step back and explain what has been done. As you do this, stand with your left side somewhat towards the audience, both hands holding the book, but the end with the loop is away from the audience and your fingers slip the end of ribbon through loop ! When you say “And on the slates on my table”, you swing sharply to the left (table is on your left) and at the same time your left hand moves away from the right. The right hand with the loop remains stationary. This action pulls the ribbon around in between the pages where the wire lies. And the sharp pull drags the ribbon through and out the other end and the wire slips off the ribbon !

As you swing left and the wire comes loose, pick up the slates in your right hand and drop the wire on the table. Bring the slates forward and hand the book to someone. And that’s all there is to it. Sometimes the pull does not bring the end of the ribbon free at the top of the book. It remains between the pages. If this happens, pull it out with a flip of the fingers as you look for someone to take it. Be sure the table is close so it requires only a turn of the body to pick up the slates. And remember that the right hand remains still, only the left hand is moving away. This has been tested, and the ribbon is never seen in its flight, the swing of the body and hands concealing everything. It is strictly a method which requires practice, rhythm in your movements, and confidence. After it is once learned, it is as easy as the complicated methods and far more fair looking. No one will ever suspect that a ribbon in the book is changed to an entirely different spot ! And when the spectator takes it to look up the word, the book and ribbon are unprepared. For what more could one ask ?