Indispensable Sleights.
I AM of course aware that the “pass,“ ” force,“ and “change“ have often been explained in the numerous excellent treatises on Card Tricks in existence, but I feel it my duty to include descriptions of them herein, inasmuch as many of the most brilliant illusions with cards would be impossible but for a thorough knowledge of these. So as not to tax the patience of my readers who are advanced in the Art, I will make my descriptions as terse as possible, first of all explaining what is acknowledged to be the foundation of card manipulation, viz.:
THE PASS.
For the accomplishment of this sleight, the pack is held as in Fig. i, with the little finger of the left hand inserted over the card to be brought to the top. Now cover the pack with the right hand. Grasp the lower portion of the pack lengthways between the second finger at the upper, and the thumb at the lower end, the left thumb lying
FIG. 1.
slightly bent across the pack. Press the upper edge of the lower packet into the fork of the left thumb so that the two packets will be in the posi-
tion depicted in Fig. 2. The fingers of the left hand are now extended, causing the upper portion of the pack to be drawn away, at the same time raising (with the right hand) the lower edge of the under pack till the edges of the packets just clear each other (see Fig. 3), when, by the mere act of closing the left hand, they will be brought together
as at first, save that they will have changed places, and the desired card will now be on the top. The letters A and B in the illustrations will make this clear.
The “pass” will appear exceedingly difficult of execution at the outset; but with careful practice, aiming more at neatness than rapidity, the different movements which I have described will melt,
HOWARD THURSTON‘S CARD TRICKS. 13
as it were, into one, and the sleight can then be accomplished in an absolutely indetectable manner.
There are numerous other methods of making the pass, some with the aid of only one hand; but as the above is conceded to be the most perfect, I have thought it necessary for me to explain merely this one.
THE FORCE.
The sleight with the above title consists of compelling a spectator to select a certain card, and is indispensable in certain tricks.
It is next to impossible in writing to teach the novice to force a card; but the idea will very soon become apparent after the learner has made a few experiments. The card which you desire selected is, in the first place, either at the top or bottom of the pack, the pass is now made (bringing the particular card to the middle) and the pack spread out fanwise, the second finger of the right hand mean-while pressing on the bottom of the necessary card, as in Fig. 4. A spectator is now asked to select a card from the pack, the performer meantime running the cards quickly from hand to hand, and, as the drawer‘s fingers approach the pack, the second finger of the right hand literally pushes the desired card into his hand, as in Fig. 5, which represents the card being pushed forward. The card to be forced should be a little more exposed than the rest. This, however, is only the A B C of the
14 HOWARD THURSTON‘S CARD TRICKS.
FIG. 4.
“force,“ the successful operation of which can only be accomplished after innumerable trials. Above all, don’t be in a great hurry to get it over.
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Endeavor to appear to be absolutely indifferent as to where the card is taken, even going so far as to say: “Have your choice, sir; take any card you wish.”
If by any chance the force fails, and another card is chosen, the performer need not fear a contretemps, but with a “Thank you, sir; kindly re-place your card anywhere you like in the pack,“ put the little finger on it, make the pass bringing it to the top, from which position it can be palmed off, or the trick finished as fancy dictates. The first card is now “forced” on some more accommodating person.
THE CHANGE.
A card held in the hand mysteriously changes to an entirely different one.
There are several methods of performing the above sleight; but I shall describe one only, which I consider to be the best.
The card to be changed is held between the first and second finger of the right hand, the pack being held in the left, with the card for which the first is to be changed slightly projecting from the top. The right hand now makes a sweeping motion, and, as it passes the pack, leaves the card at the bottom and brings away, with the thumb and first finger
HOWARD THURSTON‘S CARD TRICKS.
(see Fig. 6), the top one. This may appear to the neophyte to be impossible of indetectable execution, but with even a little practice it will be found
FIG. 6.
that a perfect illusion can be created. If the body makes a half turn from right to left, it will greatly facilitate the deception, or if done in the act of ad-dressing a spectator, and slightly bending forward at the same time.
THE ORDINARY PALM.
It is often necessary to palm or conceal a card the palm of the hand. Suppose, for instance, a
HOWARD THURSTON‘S CARD TRICKS.
card is chosen from the pack and replaced. The “pass “is then made and the card brought to the top. The pack is now held in the left hand, the right hand approaches the same, and with the second finger pushes forward the top card an eighth of an inch or more, at the same time exerting a slight pressure upon it. This causes the card to be tilted into the palm of the right hand, which forthwith grasps the pack between the first finger and thumb. (See Fig. 7.)
The pack can now safely be handed to another spectator to thoroughly shuffle, and, when returned,
FIG. 7.
the performer has no difficulty in secretly replacing the palmed card on top.
While the card is palmed, allow the hand to
hang down in a careless position, and never, under any circumstances, even glance at it.
The beginner should devote as much time as possible to the practice of the foregoing sleights, as when he is proficient innumerable new tricks and combinations will suggest themselves to his mind.