章节正文
of the pack, which you hold in your left, and then, with your
right thumb and middle finger, raise and throw successively
portions of the pack, leaving the bottom card in contact with the
fingers of the left hand.
With dexterity, any portion of the pack may be shuffled, leaving
the remainder just as it was, by separating it during the process
by inserting one or more fingers of the left hand between it and
the portions shuffled.
II. Cutting--not in the sense of bolting at the sight of 'blue,'
though that is of consequence to card-sharpers--is of importance
in all card tricks. In many tricks cutting the cards is only a
pretence, as it is necessary for the success of the trick to
replace them as they were; in technical terms, we must 'blow up
the cut.'[87]
[87] This is the sauter la coupe referred to in the chapter on
the Gaming Clubs, in the account of the trial of Lord de Ros.
See 'Graham's Club.'
There are several ways of performing this sleight-of-hand. The
cards being cut, and forming two lots on the table, smartly
snatch up the lot which should be placed on the other, with the
left hand.
This lot being taken up and the hand being in the position shown
in the figure, snatch up in like manner the other lot, and, by a
movement of the palm of the hand and the tips of the fingers,
pass the second lot under the first.
The deception of the trick depends upon its dexterity, and this
can only be acquired by practice. But really it may be dispensed
with; for it is a curious fact that, in every case when the cards
are cut, you may actuallyreplace them just as they were without
being observed by the spectators--for the simple reason that the
ruse is not suspected, especially if their attention is otherwise
engaged with your pointed observations.
The 'gift of the gab' is in this case, as in many others, a very
great resource. A striking remark or bon mot will easily mystify
the spectators, and attract their attention from what you are
DOING. Hence all prestidigitators are always well stocked with
anecdotes and funny observations; indeed, they talk incessantly:
they speak well, too, and they take care to time the word
accurately with the moment when their fingers act most
energetically.
III. To slip a card.--To slip a card is to pretend to take the
bottom card of the pack, and in reality to take the card which
precedes it. To perform this feat without detection is a very
simple affair, but it requires practice.
The pack of cards being held in the right hand,
advance the left hand--palm upwards--just as if you were seizing
the last card with the middle finger; but, having slightly
moistened this finger with the lips, push back this card, and
make it slip under the palm of the right hand, whilst you seize
the preceding card with the thumb and forefinger.
In this manner you may successively draw out several cards
besides the last, and only draw the last as the sixth, seventh,
&c., which will serve to effect several interesting tricks to be
explained in the sequel.
IV. To file the card.--To file the card is, when a card has been
taken from the pack to pretend to place it about the middle of
the pack, whilst, in reality, you place it at the bottom.
The pack must be held in the left hand, between the thumb and
forefinger, so that the three other fingers be free. One of the
middle cards should project a little. Then take the card to be
filed between the forefinger and the middle finger of the right
hand; advance the right hand from the left, and whilst the three
disengaged fingers of the left hand seize and place the card
under the pack, the thumb and forefinger of the right seize the
projecting card before mentioned, so that it seems to be that
card which you have slipped into the middle of the pack. These
movements are very easy, and, when rapidly performed, the
illusion is complete.
TRICKS.
1. To tell a card thought of by a party after three deals.
Take twenty-one cards of a pack, and deal them out one by one in
three lots, requesting the party to think of a card, and remember
in which lot it is.
Having dealt out the cards, ask the party in which lot the card
is.
Take up the lots successively, and place the lot containing the
card in the MIDDLE.
Deal out the cards again, and ask the party to state in which lot
the card is; and proceed as before, placing the lot containing
the card in the middle.
Deal out the cards in like manner a third time, proceeding as
before.
Then deal them out as usual, and the eleventh card will be the
one thought of, infallibly. This is the usual way of showing the
card thought of; but, as the trick may be partly discovered by
the counting, it is better to hold the cards in your hand, and
take out the eleventh card, counting to yourself, of course, from
the left hand, but pretending to be considering the guess.
This is apparently a most mysterious trick, although a necessary
consequence of the position of the lot containing the card in the
three deals.
2. The four inseparable kings.
Take four kings. Beneath the last place any two cards, which you
take care to conceal. Then show the four kings and replace the
six cards under the pack.
Then take a king and place it in the top of the pack, place one
of the TWO OTHER CARDS in the middle, and the other about the
same place, and then, turning up the pack, show that one king is
still at the bottom. Then let the cards be cut, and as three
kings were left below, all must necessarily get together
somewhere about the middle of the pack. Of course in placing the
two other cards you pretend to be placing two kings.
3. The barmaid and the three victimizers.
For this amusing trick you arrange the cards thus: Holding the
pack in your hands, find all the knaves, place one of them next
to your left hand, and the other three on the table. Then find a
queen, which also place on the table. Then say:--
'Three scamps went into a tavern, and ordered drink. Here they
are--the three knaves. "Who's to pay? I can't," said the first.
"I won't," said the second. "I wish she may get it," said the
third. "I'll manage it," said the first, the greatest rogue of
the three. "I say, my pretty girl, haven't you some very old
wine in your cellar?" Here's the barmaid thus addressed by the
rogue in question (showing the queen), and she replied:--"Oh yes,
sir, prime old wine." "Let's have a bottle." [Off went the
barmaid. Put the queen in your pocket.] "Now for it, my lads,"
said the knave in question; " 'mizzle' is the word. Let's be off
in opposite directions, and meet to- night; you know where."
Hereupon they decamped, taking opposite directions, which I will
indicate by placing one on the top of the pack, one at the
bottom, and the other in the middle.
'When the poor barmaid returned [taking out the queen from your
pocket] with the wine, great was her astonishment to find the
room empty. "Lor!" she exclaimed, "why, I do declare--did you
ever!--Oh! but I'm not agoing to be sarved so. I'll catch the
rogues, all of them--that I will." And off she went after them,
as shown by placing her ON, or at any rate, AFTER the first.
'Now, to catch the three seemed impossible; but the ladies have
always smiled at impossibilities, and wonders never cease; for,
if you have the goodness to cut these cards, you will find that
she HAS caught the three rogues.'
When the cards are cut, proceed in the USUAL WAY after
cutting--NOT as required in the last trick; and taking up the
cards, you will find the queen and three knaves together, which
you take out and exhibit to the astonished audience.
Of course, one of these knaves is not one of the three first
exhibited, but the one which you slipped on your left hand at
first. There is no chance of detection, however; simply for the
reason before given--nobody suspects the trick.
4. How to name every card in a pack successively turned up by a
second party, and win every trick at a hand of Whist.
This is, perhaps, the most astonishing of all tricks with cards.
Although it may be true that whateverpuzzle one man invents,
some other man may unravel, as before observed, I am decidedly of
opinion that this trick defies detection. At the first blush it
seems very difficult to learn; but it is simplicity itself in
explanation.
Begin by laying out the cards in four rows according to the
suits, all of a suit in a row side by side.
The cards must now be arranged for the trick. Take up the six in
the top or bottom row, then the two in the next row, the ten in
the third, and the nine in the fourth, placing them one upon the
other in the left hand. Then begin again with the row from which
you took the six, and take up the three. From the next row take
the king. These numbers will be easily remembered with a little
practice, amounting altogether to 30, made up thus--6 and 2 are
8, 8 and 10 are 18, 18 and 9 are 27, 27 and 3 are 30--KING.
By repeating this addition a few times, it will be fixed in the
memory.
Proceed by next beginning with the row next to the one from which
you took the last card or the king, and take the eight; from the
next row take the four; from the next the ace; from the next the
knave. These cards make up 13. Therefore say, 8 and 4 are 12
and 1 are 13--knave.
From the next row to that whence you took the knave, take the
seven; from the next row take the five; from the next the queen.
These cards make up 12. Thus, 7 and 5 are 12--queen.
It thus appears that you have taken up thirteen cards consisting
of the four suits, successively taken and being arranged as
follows:--6, 2, 10, 9, 3, king; 8, 4, 1, knave; 7, 5, queen.
Proceed in like manner with the remainder of the cards, beginning
with the row next to that from which you took the queen, and take
the six, then from the next row the two, and so on as before,
making up another batch of 13 cards.
Repeat the process for a third batch, and finish with the
remainder for the fourth--always remembering to take the card
from the next row in successioncontinually; in other words, only
one card must be taken from each row at a time.
When the cards are thus arranged, request a party to cut them.
This is only pretence; for you must take care dexterously to
replace the cut just as it was before. Let them be cut again,
and replace them as before. Your ruse will not be detected,
simply because nobody suspects the possibility of the thing.
Now take up the pack, and from the BOTTOM take the first four
cards; handing the remainder to a party, sitting before you,
saying--'I shall now call every card in succession from the top
of the pack in your hand.'
To do this, two things must be remembered; and there is no
difficulty in it. First, the numbers 6, 2, 10, 9, 3, king, &c.,
before given; and next the SUIT of those cards.
Now you know the NUMBERS by heart, and the SUIT is shown by the
four cards which you hold in your hand, fan-like, in the usual
way. If the first of the four cards be a club, the first card
you call will be the six of clubs; if the next be a heart, the
next card called will be the two of hearts, and so on throughout
the thirteen made up from every row, as before given, and the
suits of each card will be indicated successively by the suit of
each of your four indicator cards, thus, as the case may be,
clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades; clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades,
and so on.
After a little private practice, you will readily and rapidly
right thumb and middle finger, raise and throw successively
portions of the pack, leaving the bottom card in contact with the
fingers of the left hand.
With dexterity, any portion of the pack may be shuffled, leaving
the remainder just as it was, by separating it during the process
by inserting one or more fingers of the left hand between it and
the portions shuffled.
II. Cutting--not in the sense of bolting at the sight of 'blue,'
though that is of consequence to card-sharpers--is of importance
in all card tricks. In many tricks cutting the cards is only a
pretence, as it is necessary for the success of the trick to
replace them as they were; in technical terms, we must 'blow up
the cut.'[87]
[87] This is the sauter la coupe referred to in the chapter on
the Gaming Clubs, in the account of the trial of Lord de Ros.
See 'Graham's Club.'
There are several ways of performing this sleight-of-hand. The
cards being cut, and forming two lots on the table, smartly
snatch up the lot which should be placed on the other, with the
left hand.
This lot being taken up and the hand being in the position shown
in the figure, snatch up in like manner the other lot, and, by a
movement of the palm of the hand and the tips of the fingers,
pass the second lot under the first.
The deception of the trick depends upon its dexterity, and this
can only be acquired by practice. But really it may be dispensed
with; for it is a curious fact that, in every case when the cards
are cut, you may actuallyreplace them just as they were without
being observed by the spectators--for the simple reason that the
ruse is not suspected, especially if their attention is otherwise
engaged with your pointed observations.
The 'gift of the gab' is in this case, as in many others, a very
great resource. A striking remark or bon mot will easily mystify
the spectators, and attract their attention from what you are
DOING. Hence all prestidigitators are always well stocked with
anecdotes and funny observations; indeed, they talk incessantly:
they speak well, too, and they take care to time the word
accurately with the moment when their fingers act most
energetically.
III. To slip a card.--To slip a card is to pretend to take the
bottom card of the pack, and in reality to take the card which
precedes it. To perform this feat without detection is a very
simple affair, but it requires practice.
The pack of cards being held in the right hand,
advance the left hand--palm upwards--just as if you were seizing
the last card with the middle finger; but, having slightly
moistened this finger with the lips, push back this card, and
make it slip under the palm of the right hand, whilst you seize
the preceding card with the thumb and forefinger.
In this manner you may successively draw out several cards
besides the last, and only draw the last as the sixth, seventh,
&c., which will serve to effect several interesting tricks to be
explained in the sequel.
IV. To file the card.--To file the card is, when a card has been
taken from the pack to pretend to place it about the middle of
the pack, whilst, in reality, you place it at the bottom.
The pack must be held in the left hand, between the thumb and
forefinger, so that the three other fingers be free. One of the
middle cards should project a little. Then take the card to be
filed between the forefinger and the middle finger of the right
hand; advance the right hand from the left, and whilst the three
disengaged fingers of the left hand seize and place the card
under the pack, the thumb and forefinger of the right seize the
projecting card before mentioned, so that it seems to be that
card which you have slipped into the middle of the pack. These
movements are very easy, and, when rapidly performed, the
illusion is complete.
TRICKS.
1. To tell a card thought of by a party after three deals.
Take twenty-one cards of a pack, and deal them out one by one in
three lots, requesting the party to think of a card, and remember
in which lot it is.
Having dealt out the cards, ask the party in which lot the card
is.
Take up the lots successively, and place the lot containing the
card in the MIDDLE.
Deal out the cards again, and ask the party to state in which lot
the card is; and proceed as before, placing the lot containing
the card in the middle.
Deal out the cards in like manner a third time, proceeding as
before.
Then deal them out as usual, and the eleventh card will be the
one thought of, infallibly. This is the usual way of showing the
card thought of; but, as the trick may be partly discovered by
the counting, it is better to hold the cards in your hand, and
take out the eleventh card, counting to yourself, of course, from
the left hand, but pretending to be considering the guess.
This is apparently a most mysterious trick, although a necessary
consequence of the position of the lot containing the card in the
three deals.
2. The four inseparable kings.
Take four kings. Beneath the last place any two cards, which you
take care to conceal. Then show the four kings and replace the
six cards under the pack.
Then take a king and place it in the top of the pack, place one
of the TWO OTHER CARDS in the middle, and the other about the
same place, and then, turning up the pack, show that one king is
still at the bottom. Then let the cards be cut, and as three
kings were left below, all must necessarily get together
somewhere about the middle of the pack. Of course in placing the
two other cards you pretend to be placing two kings.
3. The barmaid and the three victimizers.
For this amusing trick you arrange the cards thus: Holding the
pack in your hands, find all the knaves, place one of them next
to your left hand, and the other three on the table. Then find a
queen, which also place on the table. Then say:--
'Three scamps went into a tavern, and ordered drink. Here they
are--the three knaves. "Who's to pay? I can't," said the first.
"I won't," said the second. "I wish she may get it," said the
third. "I'll manage it," said the first, the greatest rogue of
the three. "I say, my pretty girl, haven't you some very old
wine in your cellar?" Here's the barmaid thus addressed by the
rogue in question (showing the queen), and she replied:--"Oh yes,
sir, prime old wine." "Let's have a bottle." [Off went the
barmaid. Put the queen in your pocket.] "Now for it, my lads,"
said the knave in question; " 'mizzle' is the word. Let's be off
in opposite directions, and meet to- night; you know where."
Hereupon they decamped, taking opposite directions, which I will
indicate by placing one on the top of the pack, one at the
bottom, and the other in the middle.
'When the poor barmaid returned [taking out the queen from your
pocket] with the wine, great was her astonishment to find the
room empty. "Lor!" she exclaimed, "why, I do declare--did you
ever!--Oh! but I'm not agoing to be sarved so. I'll catch the
rogues, all of them--that I will." And off she went after them,
as shown by placing her ON, or at any rate, AFTER the first.
'Now, to catch the three seemed impossible; but the ladies have
always smiled at impossibilities, and wonders never cease; for,
if you have the goodness to cut these cards, you will find that
she HAS caught the three rogues.'
When the cards are cut, proceed in the USUAL WAY after
cutting--NOT as required in the last trick; and taking up the
cards, you will find the queen and three knaves together, which
you take out and exhibit to the astonished audience.
Of course, one of these knaves is not one of the three first
exhibited, but the one which you slipped on your left hand at
first. There is no chance of detection, however; simply for the
reason before given--nobody suspects the trick.
4. How to name every card in a pack successively turned up by a
second party, and win every trick at a hand of Whist.
This is, perhaps, the most astonishing of all tricks with cards.
Although it may be true that whateverpuzzle one man invents,
some other man may unravel, as before observed, I am decidedly of
opinion that this trick defies detection. At the first blush it
seems very difficult to learn; but it is simplicity itself in
explanation.
Begin by laying out the cards in four rows according to the
suits, all of a suit in a row side by side.
The cards must now be arranged for the trick. Take up the six in
the top or bottom row, then the two in the next row, the ten in
the third, and the nine in the fourth, placing them one upon the
other in the left hand. Then begin again with the row from which
you took the six, and take up the three. From the next row take
the king. These numbers will be easily remembered with a little
practice, amounting altogether to 30, made up thus--6 and 2 are
8, 8 and 10 are 18, 18 and 9 are 27, 27 and 3 are 30--KING.
By repeating this addition a few times, it will be fixed in the
memory.
Proceed by next beginning with the row next to the one from which
you took the last card or the king, and take the eight; from the
next row take the four; from the next the ace; from the next the
knave. These cards make up 13. Therefore say, 8 and 4 are 12
and 1 are 13--knave.
From the next row to that whence you took the knave, take the
seven; from the next row take the five; from the next the queen.
These cards make up 12. Thus, 7 and 5 are 12--queen.
It thus appears that you have taken up thirteen cards consisting
of the four suits, successively taken and being arranged as
follows:--6, 2, 10, 9, 3, king; 8, 4, 1, knave; 7, 5, queen.
Proceed in like manner with the remainder of the cards, beginning
with the row next to that from which you took the queen, and take
the six, then from the next row the two, and so on as before,
making up another batch of 13 cards.
Repeat the process for a third batch, and finish with the
remainder for the fourth--always remembering to take the card
from the next row in successioncontinually; in other words, only
one card must be taken from each row at a time.
When the cards are thus arranged, request a party to cut them.
This is only pretence; for you must take care dexterously to
replace the cut just as it was before. Let them be cut again,
and replace them as before. Your ruse will not be detected,
simply because nobody suspects the possibility of the thing.
Now take up the pack, and from the BOTTOM take the first four
cards; handing the remainder to a party, sitting before you,
saying--'I shall now call every card in succession from the top
of the pack in your hand.'
To do this, two things must be remembered; and there is no
difficulty in it. First, the numbers 6, 2, 10, 9, 3, king, &c.,
before given; and next the SUIT of those cards.
Now you know the NUMBERS by heart, and the SUIT is shown by the
four cards which you hold in your hand, fan-like, in the usual
way. If the first of the four cards be a club, the first card
you call will be the six of clubs; if the next be a heart, the
next card called will be the two of hearts, and so on throughout
the thirteen made up from every row, as before given, and the
suits of each card will be indicated successively by the suit of
each of your four indicator cards, thus, as the case may be,
clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades; clubs, hearts, diamonds, spades,
and so on.
After a little private practice, you will readily and rapidly
- contact [´kɔntækt]
n.接触；联系 v.联络 (初中英语单词) - portion [´pɔ:ʃən] n.嫁妆；命运 vt.分配 (初中英语单词)
- consequence [´kɔnsikwəns] n.结果；后果；推断 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- snatch [snætʃ] v.&n.抢，夺取，抓住 (初中英语单词)
- actually [´æktʃuəli] ad.事实上；实际上 (初中英语单词)
- replace [ri´pleis] vt.放回；复置；取代 (初中英语单词)
- pointed [´pɔintid] a.尖(锐)的；中肯的 (初中英语单词)
- resource [ri´zɔ:s] n.手段；智谋 (初中英语单词)
- striking [´straikiŋ] a.显著的，明显的 (初中英语单词)
- pretend [pri´tend] v.假装；借口；妄求 (初中英语单词)
- reality [ri´æliti] n.现实(性)；真实；逼真 (初中英语单词)
- project [prə´dʒekt, ´prɔdʒekt] v.设计；投掷 n.计划 (初中英语单词)
- partly [´pɑ:tli] ad.部分地；不完全地 (初中英语单词)
- mysterious [mi´stiəriəs] a.神秘的；难以理解的 (初中英语单词)
- conceal [kən´si:l] vt.藏；隐瞒 (初中英语单词)
- astonishment [ə´stɔniʃmənt] n.吃惊；惊异 (初中英语单词)
- goodness [´gudnis] n.优良；美德；精华 (初中英语单词)
- exhibit [ig´zibit] vt.展出 n.展览品 (初中英语单词)
- whatever [wɔt´evə] pron.&a.无论什么 (初中英语单词)
- puzzle [´pʌzl] n.迷(惑) v.(使)迷惑 (初中英语单词)
- altogether [,ɔ:ltə´geðə] ad.完全；总而言之 (初中英语单词)
- addition [ə´diʃən] n.加；加法；附加物 (初中英语单词)
- beginning [bi´giniŋ] n.开始，开端；起源 (初中英语单词)
- therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)
- succession [sək´seʃən] n.继任；继承(权) (初中英语单词)
- possibility [,pɔsə´biliti] n.可能(性)；希望；前途 (初中英语单词)
- readily [´redili] ad.乐意地；容易地 (初中英语单词)
- remainder [ri´meində] n.剩余物；残余部分 (高中英语单词)
- technical [´teknikəl] a.技术的；专门性的 (高中英语单词)
- whilst [wailst] conj.当...时候；虽然 (高中英语单词)
- proceeding [prə´si:diŋ] n.程序；进程；行动 (高中英语单词)
- apparently [ə´pærəntli] ad.显然，表面上地 (高中英语单词)
- necessarily [´nesisərili] ad.必定，必然地 (高中英语单词)
- amusing [ə´mju:ziŋ] a.有趣的 (高中英语单词)
- tavern [´tævən] n.小酒馆；客栈 (高中英语单词)
- astonishing [əs´tɔniʃiŋ] a.令人惊讶的 (高中英语单词)
- decidedly [di´saididli] ad.坚决地，果断地 (高中英语单词)
- simplicity [sim´plisiti] n.简单；朴素 (高中英语单词)
- continually [kən´tinjuəli] ad.不断地，频繁地 (高中英语单词)
- pretence [pri´tens] n.假装；托词；无理要求 (高中英语单词)
- preceding [pri(:)´si:diŋ] a.在先的；前面的 (英语四级单词)
- considering [kən´sidəriŋ] prep.就...而论 (英语四级单词)
- whence [wens] ad.从何处；从那里 (英语四级单词)
- dexterity [dek´steriti] n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 (英语六级单词)
- deception [di´sepʃən] n.欺骗，诈骗；骗术 (英语六级单词)
- forefinger [´fɔ:,fiŋgə] n.食指 (英语六级单词)
- inseparable [in´sepərəbəl] a.分不开的 (英语六级单词)
- holding [´həuldiŋ] n.保持，固定，存储 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
京公网安备 11011202003401号
