Page:The New Monthly Magazine - Volume 096.djvu/439

Rh Champagne— ;,  vin.

Hermitage—    le nom de ce vin.

Coq—, —quel est l'oiseau.

The names of the months and days are conveyed by their order in the year or week.

Mai— mois?

Septembre— le mois.

Vendredi— présent le jour.

The operator may vary his performance by asking aloud, "Will any gentleman present, who has been in the army, be good enough to write down the number and name of his regiment:" the subject hearing this prepares accordingly.

The 10th regiment of Cuirassiers may be named:

The operator says, ";   peut répondre sans que je parle—, ."

The separation here between the two parts of the sentence serves to indicate the nature and number of the regiment in question.

It only remains to show how correct answers can be obtained from the subject when the operator does not speak, but simply touches a bell.

This is done by holding up preconcerted objects, in alphabetical order; and though, at first sight. it may appear improbable that the objects wanted can always be obtained, yet it will be found that in a crowded audience no diffenlty will arise on that ground.

Objects beginning with alternate letters, for instance, may be taken:



and so on.
 * A ||
 * C ||
 * E ||
 * G ||
 * K || very fey common words begin with K; it may therefore b e arranged to answer "nothing" at this point, which will produce a marvellous effect.
 * M ||
 * }
 * K || very fey common words begin with K; it may therefore b e arranged to answer "nothing" at this point, which will produce a marvellous effect.
 * M ||
 * }
 * M ||
 * }

It is unnecessary to add more to this explanation of "second sight;" the simplicity of the trick will astonish everybody, but most people will be generous enough to admire the dexterous perfection of the mechanism by which they have been deluded.

If it were never directed to any other purpose than the amusement and astonishment of the public, this exposition of its nature would not have been given; but it has been often employed with very different ends, and the believers in magnetism will possibly be henceforth disposed to a little more scepticism about tho all-seeing powers which they fancy its subjects to possess.