Magic Versus Mnemonics A very clever trick, apparently depending upon a phenomenal memory possessed by the conjurer, is the following one. As the title indicates the trick is accomplished by the aid of trickery alone; the pretense of mnemonics being only part of the setting up of the trick. The performer commences the experiment by distributing at random thirty-two slips of paper numbered successively from one to thirty-two. Each spectator that gets a slip takes at the same time a card from the Euchre or Piquet pack of thirty-two cards that the performer holds on a tray. After all the slips and cards have been distributed in this manner, the performer retires to the stage and requests each spectator to call out the name of their card and number of slip, at the same time asking them to write the name of their card on the slip so that it will not be forgotten. The performer's assistant, who is stationed behind the wings or screen, or in an adjoining room, hears this. In the assistant's possession is a duplicate pack of cards, arranged systematically on a table. As soon as the spectator holding slip No. 1 calls out their card and number of slip, assistant places a duplicate of this card on place 1 of the following table, the second card is laid on place No. 2, etc. After all of the cards have been called out the assistant gathers up the four rows commencing with 32 and finishing with 16 as the last card, 32 1 17 2 25 3 18 4 29 5 19 6 26 7 20 8 31 9 21 10 27 11 22 12 30 13 23 14 28 15 24 16 Card layout table Requesting a spectator to collect all the cards that were distributed, the performer retires for a moment to fetch a handkerchief, secretly bringing pack the assistant's pack that has palmed. Receiving the cards the spectator collected, the performer places them on top of the palmed pack, both being divided by the little finger inserted between them. At a suitable moment the performer takes off the top pack, which as will be remembered contains the collected cards, and secretly disposes of these in some way. Spreading out the prearranged pack, the performer shows that it is well mixed. Covering it again with the handkerchief, the performer uses this opportunity to transfer the top card (No. 32) to the bottom of the pack, and produce the next card (No. 1) from underneath the handkerchief. Holding it up, without exhibiting its face, the performer asks: "What card does the person who holds slip No. 1 wish to see?" The name of the card desired is given, whereupon the performer turns over the one in their hand and shows it to be the card mentioned. Replacing the hand under the handkerchief, the performer draws off the top card (No. 17 of the pack) and placing it on the bottom produces the next card (No. 2) after first requesting the spectator to call out its name. The performer continues in this manner until all the thirty-two cards have been produced from underneath the handkerchief in their successive order. Home | Card Tricks | Card Trick Skills | The Pass | The Force | Changes False Shuffling | The Glimpse | Card Palm | Card Sleights Copyright © 2003-2006 HowToDoCardTricks.com. All rights reserved worldwide.   You can quickly get a copy of every trick on this web site in a downloadable PDF book. That's over 40 classic card tricks to amaze and astound your friends, all stored on your computer to refer to at any time! Just click the link below to get your own copy today for just $5.