Methods of improvement over old procedures persist in popping up. Dr Daley has gone far in making the forecast of a sum total as positive as present thought allows. Surely there is no loophole in the following for a spectator to locate. It is as fair as the genuine could be.

The effect is practically the same as of old. Four people are asked to stand and think of a three figure number. The performer looks at each in turn and writes something on his side of an ordinary slate. He draws a line, is seen to be adding columns and putting down figures, and then erases the upper half of the slate. He puts down the slate without showing, and makes the solemn announcement that he has read the mind of each, added the numbers, and now has the correct total left on the slate. First, though, he asks for a checkup. With a banded packet of blank cards he passes to each of the four and has him jot down the thought of number, one going under the other. The problem is given another to add. THIS SPECTATOR CALLS THE TOTAL ALOUD! Then, as an afterthought the performer passes by the original thinkers, asking them to check the figures they wrote, AND ALSO CALL ALOUD THE TOTAL.

In short, the total is actually called aloud five times, DURING WHICH PERIOD THE ORIGINAL WRITTEN DOWN NUMBERS ARE RECHECKED! Returning to the front, the performer says “When I looked at each of you, I read your thoughts, wrote them down, added them up, and now, in absolute proof of that assertion which I made before, I show you my total as exactly the same!” And he does!

Impossible as this may sound, the convincing details, which not alone suppress the truly wise fellow but tend to build the total up in the minds of the audience for a climax by the performer, are accomplished by a most clever subtlety.

Snap a rubber band around the end of a packet of five or six blank cards. On one side write your fake addition problem, simulating a different handwriting for each row. Draw a line but do not put down the total. Put it, instead, on the frame of your slate. To perform, you need only this packet, the slate, a pencil, and lastly, a thumb writer gimmick in place. Follow the effect as given for the first part. When the slate has been placed on the table after affecting the writing and adding, and erasing everything but the total, which is that of your fake addition, take the packet from your pocket and pass to the standing people. Give each the pencil and hold the pad in your hand while he writes his number. It is needless to say they write on the other and blank side of the packet, and it is then turned over in the one hand as you pass to another for adding. He adds while you still hold, and THEN CALLS THE TOTAL ALOUD.

At this time you step to the front and remark that each has written his number, another has added, and the total obtained is —. AS YOU GIVE THIS SLIGHT RESUME, GLANCING AT THE PACKET, AND THEN APPARENTLY READING OFF THE TOTAL, YOU ACTUALLY WRITE, UNDER THE ORIGINAL FIGURES PUT DOWN BY THE SPECTATORS, THE TOTAL OF THE FAKE ADDITION, BY MEANS OF THE THUMB WRITER!! You have ample time for the writing of only five figures as you will find out on your first trial.

Now, as an afterthought, go back to the spectators and have them check off their own rows, each one calling the total, too. They have no time to add, and after all, they are mainly interested only in their individual row of figures. The climax is then up to you. But watch the face of someone whom you know is conversant with the old way!