Cards, counters, and other foreign appliances have no part in this really new conception. The spectators select any page and any line in a Reader’s Digest, or similar magazine. They remember the first word of the line, and on a blank card write the page number and line number. The writing is sealed in an envelope. The flap is either initialed to prevent opening, or wax may be used with a ring impression to build it. The envelope is slipped under the door of a room wherein the performer has been concentrating (?) during the entire process.
A minute later the envelope is slipped back, but now, written across the face is “Go to the dictionary and turn to page —. Count down — lines in the — column. That word is the one you selected.” This is all very simple but to onlookers and participants it is unbelievable. For some reason they get a beautifully distorted view, probably because the page and word selection is perfectly fair, and the revealing of it new and novel. The performer simply has 3 items in the other room drawer. A small 25 cent flashlight, a duplicate of the magazine, and a duplicate dictionary completes it. By shining the light through the envelope, the page and line numbers are read. A few seconds later he has the word. And it then requires but a few more to find it in the dictionary.
The message is written on the envelope and slipped back under the door. It takes an actual tryout of this to realize the feeling of the guests. And there are no forces, mathematics or whatnot to confuse the operations.
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