This effect has been a favorite of mine for the past twelve years. Its simplicity of execution should commend it to the neophyte.
The performer exhibits two glass tumblers and places one upon the seat of a chair flanking him to his right, whilst the other is placed upon the seat of the chair to his left.
Four sheets of tissue paper are now shown; two of the sheets are white, one is red, and the fourth is black. The sheets of paper measure 20 inches by 12 inches. Picking up a piece of white tissue the performer places it against the sheet of black; these sheets are then folded in half, folded again, and it continues until the packet of paper measures approximately 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches. The white piece of paper is kept on the outside of the packet throughout the folding. The performer drops the packet of papers into the tumbler on his right, at the same time taking a plate from the table and placing it beneath the tumbler “to insulate it thoroughly”. The performer now adopts a similar procedure with the red and white papers, but this time they are dropped into the glass upon his left. He picks up a pack of playing cards and invites the spectator to choose one and retain it. Now the performer returns to the front.
Taking a small pair of scissors from a fancy case, he extolls their marvellous properties. The spectator is asked whether his chosen card is a red or black one. The reply is “Red”. “Thank you,” says the performer, “I will place the scissors in the glass containing the red and white papers. Had you chosen a black card I would have placed the scissors in the other glass”. Suiting the action to these words, the scissors are dropped into the glass and a small silk thrown over the latter. Several seconds elapse and then the performer removes the silk from the tumbler. Taking the packet of papers from the glass, the performer asks the spectator, “Which card did you take ?” He replies “The nine of diamonds”. Then the performer unfolds the papers to find that nine large diamond pips have been cut from the sheet of white tissue forming a replica of the selected card.
REQUIREMENTS AND PREPARATION
Two glass tumblers, two cheese or bread-and-butter plates, a small pair of scissors, a pack of cards, two chairs, a table, and SIX sheets of tissue paper each measuring 20 in. by 12 in. Three pieces are white, two are red, and the sixth is black. Nine large diamond shaped pips are cut out of one of the pieces of red paper, and these are stuck lightly on one of the sheets of white paper to form a replica of the nine of diamonds; these two sheets of paper are now folded into a packet approximately 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. The two plates are placed one on the top of the other, on the table, and the prepared packet is placed under the rear edge of the bottom plate. The pack of cards and the scissors are placed in front of the plates, the nine of diamonds being on top of the pack; the pieces of paper are laid over the back of one of the chairs, and the two glasses, nested one within the other, stand on the plates.
PRESENTATION
The performer shows the two glasses to be unprepared, and places one on the right and one on the left. The black and white papers are folded, performer holding the small packet at the extremity of his right hand, whilst the left hand picks up the top plate. The plate is shown casually, and the right hand drops the packet into the tumbler. Immediately the right hand has released the packet the former lifts the glass by the rim, the plate is placed on the chair by the left hand and the glass is then lowered on it. The red and white papers are taken and folded, but this time the packet is held by the left hand, the right hand picking up both the plate and the packet that is beneath it. In turning to the chair on his left the performer apparently passes the plate into his left hand, and the packet into his right hand; under cover of the plate, however, the unprepared papers are clipped against the underside of the plate whilst the right hand carries away the prepared papers. (This move must be carried out without the slightest hesitation). The right hand drops the papers into the tumbler, the plate is placed upon the chair and the tumbler lowered upon it, the unprepared papers resting beneath the plate. The performer now takes the pack of cards and forces the nine of diamonds. The finish of this problem is described in the effect at the beginning.
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