Two Papers and a Spectator

So many have asked me for something along mental lines that can be done practically impromptu and yet has the appearance of genuine mind reading without cards, etc., that I am disclosing a secret that I have been using for a long, long time, in fact, since October 1929 it being so dated in my notebook.

I know this may sound difficult or rather long winded, but if you follow the routine with the material at hand, you will grasp the principle very quickly and have no difficulty.

All that is needed is a thumb tip and seven or eight pieces of paper size 2×3 inches. Fold these once the long way and then twice the opposite way.

Open them out all except one and put them in the left trouser pocket. This folded slip is placed inside the thumb tip and placed in the right trouser or vest pocket so it can be easily secured. You are ready.

In starting, the packet of papers is removed from pocket and two taken, the packet being replaced. One is handed to a spectator with the request that he write the name of some dead friend or relative and then fold it as it was before. The other piece of paper is left on the table and the performer turns back and walks away while the first slip is being written.

At this time he secures the thumb tip containing the dummy on right thumb and when he returns, picks up with right hand the paper he left on the table. With left hand he takes the dead name slip from the spectator and, at the same time, hands him the slip in right hand with the request that he now write down some particular year, for instance, some year in which he and the dead party were closely connected, or perhaps his birth year or year of death.

As he gives these instructions, the performer has the dead slip on left palm and the thumb tip containing the dummy right thumb. He puts the right thumb onto the slip of left palm, left fingers close around it and right thumb comes out apparently with paper which is tossed to the table.

Actually however, the dummy is drawn from the tip instead while the dead slip remains in the left palm under the tip. Left hand drops to the side and performer turns and walks away again while the date slip is written.

This switch is smooth and clean. It shouldn’t be watched or accentuated but is done as a matter of course while explaining the procedure with the second slip.

Now, while the second slip is being written, the performer with back turned quickly reads the dead slip, refolds and holds it in the same position in left hand under the tip upon return.

Picking up the dummy from the table (apparently the dead name) he asks the spectator into which of his pockets he would like to keep it, and at the same time apparently puts it into the left hand which opens and holds it on palm. Actually it was put back into the thumb tip and the spectator picks up the real dead slip and pockets it. The performer now has the tip on right thumb again with the dummy inside.

Left hand now picks up the date slip which the spectator had placed on the table and once more the switch is made as at first and the right hand gives it to him asking him to place it somewhere in view and cover it with paper weight or book.

The date slip in the left hand under tip goes to the pocket, as the performer asks the spectator to explain whether the date written was a birth, death or important event, and during this slight stall, the slip is opened against the packet of papers and the packet brought forth. A glance at the top opened paper gives the performer the date and he takes a blank paper from the bottom of the stack. The packet is returned to the pocket and on the blank slip the performer writes the date that he has just read. This is given to a party seated a little distance away and as the performer returns, his left hand drops to pocket and the date paper is folded, pushed into tip and the left hand comes out with thumb wearing the tip.

Walking to the table or wherever the date slip has been covered, the right hand picks it up, holds on palm and the left thumb covers it for a second, the right fingers close, and the left thumb draws out carrying the slip from inside tip and this is handed directly to another party while the tip in right hand is pocketed for good.

The person slip was handed to is asked to read aloud the date. When he does, the party holding the performer’s written slip is asked to read what was written and it is the same.

Now the performer states that with the name slip he will try a quicker way and he asks the spectator to take the dead slip from his pocket and hold it against the performer’s forehead. Very slowly the performer spells out the dead name letter by letter, and apparently has never touched the paper.

I know this has been long winded, but I promised it would look rather hard. If one tries it with the material and tip in hand, it isn’t hard at all and the few stalls come at the right time to cover the moves.

The principle of switching by thumb tip belongs to Al Baker and does away with all necessity of sleight of hand. However if one wants to practice enough, it is possible to improve the working a good deal through the use of a straight method of pellet switching and no apparatus is needed.

I know that at least a few will get a great deal out of this, as I have myself, and to reach those few, I am sharing one of my most treasured secrets.