Travel Thought

:: EFFECT ::

From a set of road maps any one is selected, opened to full size and placed on a table. Any three persons then scan the map and mentally select any city or town that may strike their fancy. The medium is placed in a far end of the room facing a corner. The magus then instructs the three persons to write down their mentally selected locations on a small piece of paper so as to have an accurate check at the conclusion of the test.

The last person to write upon the slip of paper is told to fold it and keep in his inside pocket for the time being. Then he is to take the unfolded map to the medium. The three persons now form a circle with the performer by holding hands and the lights are snapped off to aid in the collective concentration. The performer lays stress upon the fact that from now on, until the medium either fails or succeeds in naming the mentally selected places, he will remain speechless. All instructions are carried out and the lights extinguished. Slowly the medium names the three selected places. The lights are turned on and the three places as named by the medium are checked by the person who holds the slip. All are correct!

:: APPARATUS ::

• A small pocket flashlight with the lens covered with red tissue paper. This is to be concealed anywhere suitable on the medium.
• A small slip of paper and pencil in magician’s inside coat pocket.
• A set of six road maps, more or less, all different. These may be obtained from local gas stations, or by writing directly to any of the large oil companies.

:: PREPARATION ::

These maps have a complete section of the country on one side, while on the other side it is blocked off in a number of small sections of cities. On the section nearest the center paste a piece of carbon paper that will fit inside of the section with a clearance of about a quarter of an inch all around with the impression side of carbon facing you.

On top of this lay a thin piece of white paper the same size as the carbon. From a similar map cut out this section and paste it over the carbon on three of its edges. Thus you have formed a pocket over the carbon and piece of paper, the latter being removable from the open side. Fold the map to its original form and prepare as many as you may care to use.

:: PRESENTATION ::

It should all be very clear by now. Remove the maps from your pocket and have any one selected. The chosen one is spread open with unprepared side facing the audience and the three cities or towns selected. Remove the slip of paper and pencil from the pocket and lay on map over the prepared section that is underneath. When the three persons write their selections, carbon impressions are left on the white paper under the carbon. The map is taken to the medium who removes the piece of paper from the pocket in map when lights are turned off. By means of the pocket lamp which so prepared will not throw a glow, she finds out the selections and slowly names them. The rest is routine plus showmanship. The whole effect is so radically different and so simple and direct in working that a tryout is highly recommended.