Jean Hugard, in the Sept. Jinx #48 described an effect of Robert Houdin’s and requested possible solutions. Here are two methods which I have started using. From the book Meet the Boys of the Pacific Coast I picked a very clever tip utilizing colored carbon paper. Its success depends upon people not knowing such a thing exists. I have found it to be true.

APPARATUS

1 – Small memo-pad, the type that is bound by a spiral wire. Plain paper inside. Size about 2″ by 3 1/2″.

2 – A piece of red or green carbon paper and a pencil with colored lead to match. Any large stationery store can supply this equipment.

3 – Small ash tray and box of matches.

PREPARATION

The first page (1) of the pad is left as is. The second page (2) on the underside has a piece of red carbon paper pasted to it. The lower right hand corner of this page (2) is cut off at a forty-five degree angle. The third page (3) is torn away from the binding and then replaced. Another page (4) is torn from the pad and folded in half, to quarters, then eights. This is placed in your left outside coat pocket along with the ash tray and matches. For the envelope part of the effect — (Note by Annemann — Mr Harrison Kimball submitted a method a few days after Mr Fetsch and from his contribution I am taking the envelope part of his solution in place of that by Mr Fetsch.) — make a nest of three envelopes as illustrated. Have the flaps open and coat the mucilage sections of envelopes and the sections where the flaps hit when closed with rubber cement and let dry. Rubber cement will stick to itself with very little pressure and make a tight joint. Have a pair of paper clips sewn to outside of inside coat pocket so that they can engage the ends of the envelopes. The envelopes with flaps open are put into place in clips, the flaps pointing outwards towards edge of coat. In this only three envelopes are used, while in the Houdin effect six or more envelopes are used. However, I think the extra envelopes mean little to the lay audience.

SECRET AND PRESENTATION

Open the pad to the first page (1) and lay it on the table with the pencil. Have any spectator write the name of any person, living or dead, his telephone or social security number, etc., on the first page (1) of the pad. After this is finished, openly tear off this page (1) and lay it writing side up on the table beside the pad. Remove the ash tray and matches from coat pocket with your left hand, at same time palming dummy page (4), and put the tray and matches on the table.

Pick up the pad and apparently tear off the top page (2) which is blank, and fold it so it matches the palmed slip (4) in left hand, telling the spectator to do the same with his page (1) that is on the table, explaining that this action prevents the magician from giving any excuse for handling the spectator’s page (1).

What really happened is that instead of the magus removing the top page (2) the next page (3) is removed. When apparently removing the top page (2) the thumb is on the corner of page (3) underneath, due to the corner being removed from the top page (2). Due to the preparation of page (3) it will come away very easily and still sound like it is being torn away. As soon as this page (3) is clear of the pad, put the pad back on the table and start folding page (3) to match page (4) palmed in left hand. Have the spectator follow your actions with his page (1).

Be careful during the folding of your page (3) that the writing is not revealed. By the time he starts the folding of his page (1) your page (3) is completed. During the time he is finishing the folding of his page (1), still under your verbal directions, switch page (3) in your left hand for page (4).

When the spectator has finished folding his page (1) remove a match from the box, light it and set fire to your page (4) and drop on the tray. Then hand the matches to your spectator and have him do the same with his page (1). As soon as he strikes the match, reach into coat with your left hand which has page (3) palmed. Load this into the nest of envelopes, fold the flaps over giving a firm rub, bring them out and lay on the table in full view. While paper is burning start the buildup. After the spectator’s page is completely destroyed, have him open the envelopes. Inside the last envelope is the same page he has just burned. Stunning isn’t the word for the effect this creates.

The strong point of this routine are as follows:

1 – The magician never touches the spectator’s page.

2 – The spectator folds and burns his own paper.

3 – If someone knows about colored carbon paper, the fact that the only other page that was handled was burned, erases any thought that they might have along these lines.

4 – The nest of envelopes are on the table while the still burning page is in hand of spectator.

5 – The freeness in the discovery of the page in the envelopes.

METHOD #2

In this method the only difference is in the fact that the carbon copy is burned by the spectator, while the original page is found in the envelopes.

After the spectator has written on page (1), pick up the pad and look at what he has written, saying “I see you have written so and so. It is strange, but this was written by another person about four weeks ago during a performance”. Ask him if he knows this person, giving a name. During this bit of byplay you shove back the corner of top page (1) and get a grip on corner of page (3). Pull it out with the tearing sound making it very realistic and lay on the table with writing side up during the conversation. This gives the spectator the carbon copy. The magician then tears off the top page (1) and follows routine as explained. This puts the original in the nest of envelopes.

To select either one of the other of the two methods would just be a case of suiting the style of the individual performer, because a very close comparison would be necessary to distinguish the original from the carbon, and this never happens in either method.

Another angle would be to have the last three pages of the pad set up with a green sheet of carbon. Thus a choice of red or green pencils could be given and the pad opened up from either side.