Symmyst

:: SYMMYST ::

This is Symmyst, and it identifies a person who has been initiated into the Mysteries. A great favorite of mine since released in 1931 by Annemann has been what was called The One Man ‘Genuine’ Magazine Test. Peter Warlock, in a biography for The Magic Circular, referred to it “I cannot call to mind in any modern magical literature, any subtlety producing so great an effect.”

Only once was I “caught”, by an alert friend, whose “flash of wisdom” one of those recurrent telepathic ideas gained no doubt from a guilty conscience, gave voice to the correct solution. It started me using a new approach and variation which, to date, has withstood solution.

It’s all about a magazine test wherein the performer reveals words selected by two different people. The repetition raises the effect above its first climax for interest has been whetted and the second revelation is more confusing than the first.

There is little preparation about the magazines and once fixed up they are good for quite a few performances.

Use Collier’s or Liberty, the latter being more practical because of ease of handling. English readers will have an equivalent to this weekly of about 60 pages. Buy 2 copies of the same issue. Now buy 1 copy each of two different issues. From 1 of the latter two remove the cover, it being easy because the magazines are only stapled. Exchange this cover with one of the duplicate issues. Throw away the odd copy and cover. You now have three magazines, all with decidedly different covers, but two of which are alike in contents.

The three magazines are brought forward and a spectator asked to take two of them. Usually he will take two that are different which is exactly as it should be. If he takes the two like magazines, immediately hand the one left to another spectator, then ask the first man to hand back either one of his two, thus always ending up with two people holding different magazines and you have a duplicated of one of them.

For the moment you lay your magazine aside, but close at hand, and concentrate upon the person holding the odd magazine. From your pocket take a small pad and pencil. Say that you desire everything left to chance. Pass to four or five people, each of whom whispers a single figure in your ear, and in every case you write down the figure before that person’s eyes. Then you hand the pad and pencil to the man with the magazine. He totals the column and opens the book at that page. It’s forced quite simply and cleanly. Let’s say you previously picked page 42, one having reading matter. You put down the figures as given you but silently add them to yourself. When the total hits 33 (9 less than 42) or more, start back towards the man and his magazine. You know the exact figure needed to make your desired total. You stand before the spectator. Say “Here’s a column of figures taken at random. You total them, and no matter what the result is, open the magazine at that page.” As you talk you openly draw a line under the column, but a bit below the last figure, and as you indicate that he is to add and total what’s there, merely add in that needed figure. He takes the pad and you return to the front and pick up a slate and chalk. He totals and gets the page. Now ask him to THINK of a figure himself, 1 to 9. He is told to count along the first line of reading matter on the page, noting the word at that number. You pretend to write letters of the alphabet on the slate, where, quite visible, is a lead pencil list of the nine words on that page. You have judged his counting across his page.

Start from where you think he is and pump. “It’s a long word.” “It’s a word you can picture. A name of something.” “The word you have in mind denotes action. It’s something a person does.” “It’s a very simple word that’s common.” Such pumping does not hurt a bit. You are reading a mind. You get a first letter. If wrong tell him to think of the next letter, you naming the second letter of another word. It will never take as long as it reads in print. Once you are sure write it on the slate and have him call it out. Then show the slate.

The foregoing is far from original but it has points which fit in this test and build for the second. Regardless of how hard it is, say, “You’re a difficult subject. It’s hard to get impressions. You should make a good poker player.” And turn to the other person. Put the slate aside. Point to someone and ask for a number not over 50. Then point to someone else and ask for a number from 1 to 9.

Have the second man stand. Be serious. Tell him to open his magazine at the page called. At the same time pick up your magazine saying “Hold it up so no one but yourself can see the page.” Illustrate, and open your magazine to the correct spot. Keep your finger there. He does his part. Then tell him to count along the line to the second number. Again illustrate, stressing that no one must get a glimpse. Only a glance gets you the word in your duplicate magazine. Lay it aside. Now make your climax strong.