The Boomerang Card

That pretty and effective ornamental sleight whereby a card tossed into the air returns to the performer and is caught at his finger tips, is rarely seen nowadays. Probably this is owing to the fact that to make the card return any considerable distance requires practice, and partly by the spread of the easy back hand move.

By combining the throwing sleight with the back hand move and part of the top change a striking effect may be obtained. That may sound a formidable combination but there is nothing to be afraid of.

First it is necessary to be able to throw a card a few feet into the air and make return to your hand. To do this you take a card between the first joints of the right thumb and second finger at the lower left corner, the card being face down the tip of your second finger will cover the index. The first joint of your forefinger rests on the opposite corner of the card.

Now if you bend your elbow and wrist inward, till the card almost touches your chest, then throw the card in the air at an angle of about 45 degrees, at the same time giving it a backward spin by a sharp twist of your wrist, as soon as the outward impetus imparted to the card is exhausted, the backward spin will tend to bring it back at the same angle as it mounted. A little practice will enable you to throw the card a few feet and make it return to you, enabling you to catch it at your finger lips. This will be sufficient for you to perform the effect which follows.

You throw a card two or three times and catch it in the manner previously described, then draw your hand back as if to make another throw, leave the card on the top of the pack, then without a moment's hesitation, jerk your arm and wrist forward in exact imitation of the action when you really threw the card. You appear to throw the card to the left front and you open the fingers of the right hand as if the card had just left them, keep your arm extended, forefinger pointing, and slowly turning to the right, you exclaim, "There it goes, right around the room." You follow its imaginary flight with your eyes, gazing intently.

In the mean time, with your left thumb, you pull the card off the pack so that nearly one half of it protrudes to the rear. As your left side comes to the front you bend your right arm inward and extend your left. Keep the back of your left hand to the front and bend the right fingers in toward the palm, then as the left hand passes the right nip the protruding end of the top card with the back of the right fingers in the position of the back hand palm. At once, turn the right hand palm outwards and, extending your left arm to the left, as if indicating where the card now is, exclaim, "There it is."

Drop your left arm and stretching out your right, palm of hand to the front, rapidly produce the card at the finger tips as if you had just caught it in its flight.

The actual transfer of the card from the top of the pack to the back of the right hand is purely a matter of timing and should be practiced before a mirror. If the card and your hands are in the right positions the pick up is instantaneous and imperceptible.

I know of no more effective flourish with cards. It is not difficult, but requires acting, otherwise showmanship. By all means, practice it, and add it to your repertoire.

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You then proceed as may be necessary for the trick in hand. If you have to control the card, as he takes it out, you have him return the rest of the cards to you; if you do not have to keep the card in view you let him retain the pack and shuffle the card in as he pleases.

A word of caution is necessary. You must take care that no one gets a glimpse of the bottom card of the packet in your right hand. This is best avoided by standing with your right side to the front, thus keeping the backs of the cards to the spectators all the time the count is made.

The End