Magical Originalities
Ernest E. Noakes
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The Spot Card
THE trick to which I have given the above name was first shown to me in 1903 by a celebrated coin manipulator, since when I have presented it in my own fashion. I give the pack to be shuffled, and request that a card be selected. I have a small easel upon my centre table. When the card has been selected, I let the audience see it, and place it on the easel, with its back to the audience. I approach another person, requesting him also to take a card from the pack, which I now hold. He takes a card, which I likewise show to the audience and place on the easel. A third, fourth, fifth, or more are selected in the same way, but the audience are simply laughing at me every card that is selected is the same. After standing the last card upon the easel, I "accidentally" let them see the bottom card of the pack-which also is the same as the one drawn. I then note they "suspect" me! Therefore I show them the top card to prove it is a genuine pack--but this is also the selected card. I then cut the pack and "take a card at random"--this likewise is the original card! I pretend how sorry I am that they should imagine the pack is not a genuine one, and request someone to examine the pack, and whilst this is being done, I show that none of the cards on the easel are the chosen card, nor is it in the pack, as, before I started the trick, I knew they would imagine they saw the--(naming their card), so I have had it safely stowed away all the time. The selected card is now produced from pocket-book or other place.
This is one of those tricks that not only demands a smartness of manipulation, but the performer must feel he can carry it through, or there will be rocks ahead. There is of course no force. The card is freely selected, and spoken of throughout as the "three spot card," or whatever it may be. The card is "changed" as performer goes to the easel, and then forced each time upon the other choosers. The last time, the original card is left at the bottom of the pack, and the audience allowed to see it. The pass is made to leave it top, and it is shown there; then it is "taken at random" from the middle (by the slip); then replaced, brought to the top of the pack, palmed off, and the pack allowed to be examined, etc.
If the performer does not get a hearty laugh from his audience, the fault is not in the trick. It is not nearly so difficult as it reads, and it is well worth devoting some time to, as the "presentation" repays the practice.
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