Thurston'sEasyPocketTricksTheA B CofMagic
Howard Thurston
8,680 wordsMentalismintermediateFr id’s myst Li ard Thui the w o rl ec- tion to help ind have
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4 TH EDITION
All New Tricks
=PRICE=
A TWO HOURS PERFORMANCE
b e st p o c KE t
W ITH ONE HOURS PRACTICE
WORLDS MASTER
HERE ARE TRICKS THAT YOU
CAN DO!
Fr id’s
myst Li ard
Thui the
w o rl ec-
tion to
help ind
have the
acqu >re-
sent( ith
phot un-
dersl of
thes( re
veal< — WILL ALMA
M.I.M.C. (LONDON) tail
amu me.
Give this book an hour’s study and you
will be prepared to compete with sto ry
tellers, musicians and elecutionists
who have devoted y ears to their chosen
branch of entertainment.
Book No. 4— A ll New Tricks
The Tricks in this Book are Entirely Different from
any of the Three Preceeding Books
of This Series
THURSTON’S
EASY POCKET
TRICKS
The A-B-C OF MAGIC By
HOWARD THURSTON
T H E W ORLD’ S M A S T E R M A G IC IA N
AUTH OR OF
“ Howard Thurston’s Card Tricks ”
“ 100 Tricks You Can D o”
“ The Truth o f Indian Mystery”
An Expose of the Tricks and Feats of the
East Indian Fakirs
C O P Y R IG H T BY H O W A R D T H U R S T O N , 1915
THURSTON’
S E A S Y P O C K E T TRICKS.
HOW ARD TH U RSTO N
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 3
; L ib r a rjy o f Victoria
T h e State -------
A L M A CONJURING CO LLECTIO N”
PREFACE.
T h is little volum e has but one m ission—to help
those w ho w ish to entertain, and to start others who
desire to begin the study of m agic and m ystery. It
offers a long series o f w onderful tricks which can be
learned in a m om ent; w hich do not require either
practice or apparatus, and which w ill am aze and de
light you r friends.
B u t'th e author would giv e all w ho read it tw o
bits of a d v ic e :
N ev er show a trick until you have tested it
alone and are sure that you can do it. Som etim es
you m ight m isunderstand and m ake a failure. One
trial in private is all you need.
N ever explain how the trick is done.
K E E P T H E M G U E S S IN G !
Special attention is called to the A stro lo gical
R eadings in the last p art of the book.
L earn w hat the stars and planets say about you r
qualifications.
K n o w thyself.
4 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
INTRODUCTION.
n V E R Y year, as I pass through the big cities o f our
^ country, I am besieged at m y hotel w ith youn g
men— yes, and not a few of the fair sex—w ho w ant
to know how they can learn to become m agicians.
M y mail is heavy w ith letters bearing sim ilar re- *
quests. T h ey come from all sorts o f people and
from every place in the land.
This book is the an sw er to their questions.
It is m y purpose to publish ev ery season a new
issue, w ith new tricks, so that those w ho delight to
Widen with wonder the eyes of their friends, w ith
out much trouble, m ay look forw ard each y e a r to a
new supply of m agic. And I hope you w ill not
overlook the astrological charts in the back. A11
has not y e t been said on this w onderful su b je ct; its
m ysteries still fascinate learned men.
Learn w hat the seers have read to you in the
stars. *
A gain I say to you, K now thyself.
THURSTON’
S E A S Y P O C K E T TRICKS. 5
HOWARD THURSTON
And the Wonder Show of the Universe.
“ I predict that my successor, Mr. Howard Thurston, will
become the greatest magician the world has ever seen.”
So said the great master, H arry Kellar, as he dropped the
mantle of mystery upon this sturdy young American, some
O N G A N G E S R IV E R A T B E N A R E S , IN D IA .
( P h o t o by T h u rs to n .)
eight years a g o ; turned over to him his magic wand and said
farewell to the public. He spoke neither idly, nor hastily.
For years he had watched Mr. Thurston’s strange and re
markable career; had followed with keen interest his astound
in g and remarkable adventures at the four corners of the
globe, and his prediction was based on practical observation.
The kind-faced old necromancer had read the future w e ll; how
truly, the enormous success of Mr. Thurston in the last eight
6 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
years shall testify. Today he is presenting a performance
conceded by students of magic, theatrical critics and veteran
theater-goers the most amazing entertainment in history.
And this is the logical sequence, the consistent evolution
of a life possibly without a parallel. He has girdled the earth
three tim €s; has been the favorite of the world’s rulers and
their subjects, and has found life a never ending series of
strange adventures. Indeed, these adventures began almost
before he could walk.
S N A K E C H A R M E R A T C A L C U T T A , IN D IA .
( P h o t o by T h u rs to n .)
His father was Vice-Consul at Algeria and in that barbaric
place he was taken when he was three years old. Moham
medan marabouts kidnapped him, and for three years his
father had all Africa searched for his bay boy. One day, his
father left his office. When he returned, the boy Howard was
found asleep on the floor. How he was brought there no one
ever knew. And Mr. Thurston insists he does not know.
While the strange men who had stolen him, kept him
from his parents, they treated him with the profoundest re
spect, almost approaching to veneration. He had several
THURSTON’
S E A S Y P O C K E T TRICKS. 7
servants to attend to his slightest w ish; no harsh word was
ever spoken to him, and no move was made to secure ransom
for him. Indeed, the large sums of money offered as a reward
for his return by Mr. Thurston’s father, were ignored.
These marabouts taught him strange religious rites and
ceremonies, and initiated him into the mysteries of the priest
ly occultism. When he was brought again to his parents, the
feats which he exhibited, filled them with amazement and con-
G RO U P O F M A G IC IA N S A T A G R A , IN D IA .
(Photo by Thurston.)
cern. His father, always a deeply religious man, feared he
was possessed.
This undoubtedly hastened the return of the family to the
United States when the boy was seven years old. In this
country he was taken before the most eminent physicians
and psychologists of the principal universities, but his aston
ishing mental powers were as puzzling to them as to all who
had seen them.
But as he grew older, the boy Thurston neglected his un
usual gifts or acquired arts, and became a profound lover of
THURSTON’
S E A S Y P O C K E T TRICKS.
athletics. Soon after he was 17 years old, he found himself
a student of theology at the Dwight L. Moody School in North-
field, Mass., and four years later received the degree that
made him a minister. But Howard Thurston had still cher
ished within him that yearning for mystery which had been
such a singular part of his boyhood, and so his vision of an
ideal shifted from the pulpit to the stage. All the years that
he had been studying to be a clergyman, he had been per
fecting himself in magic, as a hobby, and reading all about it
G R O U P O F M A G IC IA N S A T D E L H I, IN D IA .
( P h o t o by T h u rs to n .) 1
that he could. Soon after leaving the school, he witnessed a
performance by Alexander Herrmann. That decided him. He
was to be a magician!
His real magical career dates from an opening which he
was given at Tony Pastor’s. Immediately he was sought out
by the principal variety managers in those, the infant days of
vaudeville. His mastery of cards, his skill in sleight-of-hand,
his engaging stage presence, all made him a new sensation in
the stage world and engagements came flooding in.
With the years that followed came greater skill in the
strange art which he had embraced and greater plaudits from
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 9
the public. And a fte r m any tours o f Am erican circuits, Mr.
Thurston heard a siren call from over the sea. T h e b ig world
beyond w as beckoning, and so, in 1905, he took his b ig show on
a tour that w as destined to c a rry him around the world.
A m o n g the stran ge places which he visited on his jou rn ey
w ere Honoulu, the Philippine Islands, the Sandw ich Islands,
F iji, N ew Zealand, A u stralia, Tasm ania, Ja v a , Sum atra, C ey
lon, Burm a, P ersia, India, A frica , A rabia, P ortu gal, Spain,
Ita ly , Belgium , Greece, E g y p t, China, Jap an , Chocin China,
THURSTON’S TENT IN W HICH HE TOURED INDIA.
S traigh ts Settlem ents, South A m erica, M exico, Canada, G reat
B ritain , Fran ce, Germ any, D enm ark, Sw eden and R ussia.
W hen it is considered that this a g g ressive youn g A m eri
can w izard carried w ith him a com pany of fifteen people and
tw en ty tons of b aggage, it w ill be seen this w as rea lly a m ost
rem arkable journey.
In a foregoin g paragraph, mention w as made of the fact
that M r. Thurston had been the favorite o f m any rulers.
A m ong them w ere the late K in g E d w ard V II., of E n g la n d ;
Presid en t Eoubet, of F ra n c e ; E m p eror W illiam II., o f Ger
10 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
m any; Czar Nicholas II., of R u ssia; King Leopold II., of B el
gium ; Shah Muzaffer-de-din, of P e rsia ; K ing Christian IX.,
of D enm ark; King Oscar, of Sw eden; K ing George, of G reece; »
the Crown Prince of S iam ; Emperor Franz Joseph, of Austria,
and a score of the rulers of the Orient.
To tell of his encounters with the yogis and mahatmas
of India; his adventures in the barbaric lands where he car
ried his wonderful entertainment is too big a task for such a
G R O U P O F M A G IC IA N S A T B O M B A Y , IN D IA .
( P h o t o b y T h u rs to n .)
little book as this. Some larger, future volume must tell the
tale of this tour. Suffice it to say that he pitted his Am eri
can tricks against the hum-bug of all the mystic East, and
proved the proverbial Yankee superiority.
Two years from the time he set sail from New York, Mr.
Thurston returned, full of the honors which he had won by
his magic. One of the first to welcome him was the veteran
Kellar, who had looked at his bank book, felt entirely satisfied,
and was ready to turn his work over to a successor. It is in
teresting to know that he waited a year for Mr. Thurston’s
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 11
return, for he had determined that Mr. Thurston should be his
successor.
Since that time, Mr. Thurston has toured the United States
each year. New m ysteries crowd his program, season after
season, and his performances are attended by enormous audi
ences, in which the keenest students of science are frequently
conspicuous.
Fo r this is indeed the wonder show of the universe that
he is o ffe rin g a n d an entertainment in which there is nothing
to offend the most delicate of sensibilities; where all is pleasant
wonder and surprise. Ju st to hear the tide of laughter that
sweeps through Mr. Thurston’s audiences is to answer for all
time the question: Has magic a practical value? A practical
value? What could be more practical than to conceive and
produce mysteries which give so much pleasure to thousands
upon thousands, and thus help to “ drive dull care aw ay.”
But, after all, it is really Mr. Thurston’s singularly inter
esting personality which has been the greatest factor in his
success. He is an entrancingly engaging gentleman, who wins
your sympathy and interest, and yet about whom there clings
an air pregnant with mystery. You are never sure, you see,
whether what he has shown you was really a clever trick, or
whether it did lap, ju st a little, over the borderland of the un
known.
And this year he is offering the best show he has ever pro
duced. In vigorous health, and with such a splendid show, he
is reaping the greatest success any magician has ever achieved.
He has justified what his old friend K ellar said of him, and to
America is given the honor of having the most potent sorcerer
of the modern world.
C H A R L E S F- O U R SL E R .
12 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
THE EAST INDIAN SLAVE BANGLE.
The performer shows a solid metal ring about four inches in
diameter, and a piece of rope about two feet long. The ends of the
rope are tied tightly to his wrists, and the ring placed in his hands.
He whirls around and when he reappears, the ring is on the cord.
The knots are undisturbed.
The secret lies in the use of a second ring, unknown to the spec
tators. This is slipped on the wrist and up as far as the elbow, be
fore the trick is begun. When the performer turns around, he
quickly stuffs the first ring in an inner pocket and pushes the dupli
cate down over his hand and on to the cord.
This is a favorite experiment with some of the foreign spirit
mediums.
A t any large hardware store, these rings can be secured at fire
cents each.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 13
THE ASTRAL ACE.
One of the prettiest of impromptu effects with cards. The per
former exhibits the ace, deuce and three of diamonds and chal
lenges those watching him to catch the ace. He places it on the
top of the pack, makes a mystic pass and immediately shows that the
ace has passed to the bottom of the pack. The pack is at once
handed for examination; there is no second ace.
To do the trick, you must first place the real ace of diamonds
at the bottom of the pack. Then take the ace of hearts, turn it
three, and the illusion of the ace of diamonds is at once created.
After the trick is done, shuffle the cards befo.e handing the pack
to the audience, so that the ace of hearts is mixed in with the other
card*.
14 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
THE ELECTRIC PENCIL.
The perform er shows an ordinary pencil and delivers a
long harangue about its extraordin ary pow ers. H e says it can
w rite any color o f the rainbow and declares he is ready to
prove it. When someone takes him up and su ggests a color,
“ green ” fo r exam ple, he sim ply w rites the w ord “ green ” on a
sheet of paper.
Which, really, w as all that he undertook to d o !
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 15
THE SURPRISE MATCH TRICK.
Four matches are rem oved from an ordinary sa fe ty match box
by the m agician. He places one in each side o f the box, between
the little d raw er and the side, and between them inserts another,
crossw ise. The fourth he ignites and holds it im m ediately beneath
the middle lucifer, which soon catches fire.
“ N ow ," he says, "can you tell me which o f the tw oside sticks
w ill first catch fire ? ”
V arious guesses are hazarded, some sayin g one, some the other,
while others venture that both w ill catch at once.
B ut the question is settled in a sudden and startlin g m anner
when the match stick suddenly gives a m ighty leap into the air, e x
tinguishing itself on the way.
16 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
THE INEVITABLE.
This is one of the astonishing freak s of figures which no m athe
m atician has yet explained. Tell a friend to w rite down three figures
in a row, all different. T ell him to reverse their order, beneath it.
He must then subtract the sm aller from the larger. He is then to
w rite out the result, and reverse its figures beneath it. T hese last
two row s of figures he is to add together.
Now remember 1 You do not ask him a single question. But
you imediately announce the result.
The secret is absurdly simple. The answer will always be 1089.
Example: 745
547
198
891
1089
CAUTION—Always the numbers must be different. And if a
cipher i* the result of the subtraction in the extreme left, the figure
0 must be placed down, as 098, as in the reversal it would play an
important part.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 17
THE CLINGING CARD CLUSTER.
In .this very charm ing card trick, the performer arranges playing
cards on his palm in a large cluster, and then turns his hand com
pletely over. The cards cling to his palm as if they were magnetized.
Before showing the trick, the performer inserts a needle under
the skin, near the center of his palm. The head and point of the
pin project, a third, and one-third of the needle is under the skin. At
a very short distance, this needle is not noticeable.
The cards are placed, the first two under the head and point and
the others around the pin in such a way that it forms a staunch
structure, as in the picture. A slight contraction of the hand will
cause the skin to break and the cards will fall to the floor at the
word of command.
18 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
THE CHALK MYSTERY.
At the outset, the perform er shows that his palm is clean and
unprepared, and allow s it closely to be scrutinized. He places it
under a table top, and with his free hand draws -tfith a piece of chalk,
red for preference, three little parallel lines on the table top. Sud
denly he rubs than out and, w ith draw ing his hand from under the
table, shows sim ilar m arks on his palm.
The chalk w as first rubbed on the finger nails on the hand which
goes under the table. W hen it is under there, where it cannot be
seen, the hand is closed into a tight fist and the nails, pressing
against the palm, transfer the chalk marks there.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 19
BALANCING A PACK OF CARDS ON THE HAND.
After making several attempts and apparently failing,
the performer at length succeeds in balancing a full pack of
cards upright on the back of the hand.
B u t things are not w hat they seem ! The first few at
tem pts w ere m erely to give him time, under cover of aw k
w ard m ovem ents, to get a card in back of the pack, nipped
between the second and third fingers, as in the illustration.
In this position, the pack can easily be balanced. T o end it,
let the pack fall to the back o f the hand in a heap, and the
supporting card w ill go w ith the rest.
20 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
THE LEVITATION OF THE MATCHES.
The m agician lays a dozen sa fe ty matches or so on the table,
and the outer case of the match box, the inner draw er having been
removed. H e says he w ill lift all the matches and the case without
using his hands.
T o do this, he places the m atches closely together until he has
ju st enough to cover the opening at the end of the case. H e places
the case directly over the m atches, and then reaches down and takes
the free end o f the case in his mouth. So long as he draw s in his
breath, the m atches w ill cling to the bottom of the case, even though
it is shaken in m id-air.
This novel effect, though dependent on a w ell known principle,
never fails to elicit amazement.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 21
GO!
I have seen some of the brigh test and best inform ed m agicians
in the land baffled w ith this extrao rd in arily simple y e t bew ildering
trick. It can be shown on ly to one person at a time.
The p erform er stands closely beside the spectator, at his right,
and shows him a sm all silk handkerchief. H e holds it about a foot
below his chin and suddenly brings his hands together, shouting,
“ G o l” The handkerchief in stan tly disappears.
A * he is about to vanish the handkerchief, the p erform er grasps
it in his righ t hand. H e raises this upward a moment and bring* it
down w ith a resounding sm ack on the palm o f the left hand, and
shows both em pty. B ut as he raised the right hand, he sim ply tossed
the handkerchief over the spectator’s shoulder.
22 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
THE RISING CARDS.
The performer says the cards are so well under his con
trol that he can make them move by a mysterious influence
radiating from his fingers. To prove this, he holds his first
finger near the top of the pack and when he raises it a card
leaves the pack and follows it.
The first photograph illustrates the effect, while the sec
ond shows how the card is propelled upward by the unseen
little finger.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. - 23
THE MATCH THAT LIGHTS TWICE.
Y ou can challenge any one to light a match tw ice; see
them fail and give it up, and then show them that you can
do it—ju st by following these instructions.
Have a glass filled with water close at hand. Light a
match, and just as it flares up, plunge it into the water. It
will go out immediately, and all of the sulphur, or other chem
ical preparation forming the “ head” will not have been burned.
L et it dry and you can strike the match again,
24 . THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
A FAMOUS DIVINATION EXPERIMENT.
Tw o little piles of playing cards are on the table. The
performer undertakes to predict beforehand which pile will
be mentally selected by a spectator.
The secret lies in the fact that one pile consists of seven
cards, while the other consists of the four sevens—clubs, dia
monds, hearts and spades. Consequently, the performer has
only to say the “ Seven pile” and he is bound to be right.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 2S
SWALLOWING A PENCIL.
Here is a sword swallowing trick on a small scale. The
performer apparently thrusts a long pencil down his throat,
until only the metal end is visible.
It is this metal end that is the secret of the trick. From
a large pencil, thick and heavy, remove the metal cap which
holds the eraser. Slip this over the top of a thinner pencil.
To swallow the pencil, slip the point in the mouth, and then
slide the movable cap down its entire length, meanwhile hid
ing the rest of the pencil by the wrist. The illusion is that
it goes entirely down the throat.
26 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
A MIND-READING TRICK WITH COINS.
L ay two coins on the table. Their dates must be differ
ent. Tell a spectator to hold one to his forehead and count
fifteen, while your back is turned; then to replace it on the
table. You tell him which coin he held.
B y holding the coin so long, it became warm, while the
other on the table was cool. Thus the performer has only to
touch the coins to tell which was the one held.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 27
THE MAGNETIZED PENCIL.
Take two feet of fine black silk thread and pass it through
the second vest buttonhole. Tie the ends together. Pass a
pencil through the loop thus formed and if you hold it against
the finger tips it will remain there, as if magnetized. From
a very short distance, the string is invisible, and you can sus
pend the pencil in all sorts of queer positions.
28 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
THE STRETCHED HANDKERCHIEF.
The performer borrows an ordinary cambric handkerchief,
such as men usually have with them, and undertakes to in
crease its size. He stretches it and keeps it up until the spec
tators wonder if he is never going to stop. He then reduces
it to its normal size.
Few people know how much such a handkerchief can be
stretched. The performer holds the handkerchief loosely, and,
unknown to the audience, has an inch or so of slack secreted
in each hand. He stretches the handkerchief and it naturally
increases surprisingly in length. Also he plays out a ju
dicious bit of slack every moment or so, and the result, to
those not in the secret, is exceedingly surprising.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 29
A RAPPING SEANCE.
A fter showing your friends the preceding trick, they will
very likely be interesting in seeing more. If so, have them
all place their hands on the table, have the lights lowered and
then bid them listen. They will soon hear more raps.
The thumb is again the mischief maker, but this time it
operates in a different way. Under cover of the rest of the
hand, as shown in the picture, it scrapes along the table top,
producing weird and ghastly sounds.
30 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
SPIRITS RAPS AT THE DINNER TABLE.
D uring the evening meal, when the shades o f night are falling,
table talk sometimes turns to spiritualism . It is then the budding
wizard offers to produce the raps fo r which the F o x sisters and
other famous mediums w ere famed.
H e places a pencil, point downward, upright on the table, grasp
ing it at the top b y the thumb and first finger. W hen all is still
and quiet, sharp quick raps are heard, and questions m ay be an
swered, one rap sign ifyin g no and two raps yes.
T o do this, all that is necessary is to graps the pencil v e ry tightly
and move the thumb gen tly upward. A pronounced rap is the result.
The movement of the thumb, which is ve ry slight, is m asked b y the
other fingers.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 31
TO SPIN A COIN ON BOTTOM OF TUMBLER.
The problem is to spin a coin on its edge on the bottom of a
tumbler and to keep it in motion indefinitely.
This is accomplished by holding the glass on which the
coin lies, close to the mouth, and blowing directly at the coin.
This will lift it on the edge and, if the slight blowing is con
tinued, the coin will spin at a m erry rate.
32 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
THE SECRET OF THE ASHES.
The perform er is seated at a table. B efo re him are five sheets
of paper and a pencil. He asks the spectators to call out the name
o f any great man, and w rites it down on a sheet of paper. Five
names are given, the perform er w ritin g them on the sheets o f paper.
Each paper is then folded sep arately and dropped into a hat, in
which they are thoroughly shuffled. One is rem oved b y a spectator,
the others are burned. In the ashes, the perform er says he can read
the name o f the chosen billet, and in a moment announces the name.
T his is one of the sim plest as well as the m ost deceptive of
secrets. The perform er w rites down the first name given him, and
a fter that, no m atter w hat names are called, he w rites that first given
name on each of the billets. Consequently, no m atter which is se
lected, he knows the name on it.
The object in burning the others is to get dam aging evidence
out of the way.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 33
THE FAMOUS PERSIAN PLATE.
T h e m agician allow s someone to select a card, which he is di
rected to hold against his forehead. The m agician then exhibits
a plate, over which he sprinkles charcoal. Spinning this around, he
causes the ch arcoal to form itself into an im age of the chosen card.
The effect of this is extraordinary.
W hen the card is drawn, the m agician learns w hat it is. H e then
retires to procure a plate. W h ile absent, he h u rried ly draw s an
image of the card on the plate w ith a w a x candle. T h is leaves an
invisible im pression, and when dust, such as charcoal, is throw n over
it, it w ill adhere to the w ax. T he rest of the charcoal is blow n aw ay.
O nly face cards should be used in this experim ent.
34 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
A FAMILY FIGURE FREAK.
T ell a person to—
Put down the number of his living brothers. If he has none, put
down a cipher.
M ultiply it by two.
Add three.
M ultiply the result by five.
• Add the number of livin g sisters.
M ultiply the result b y 10.
Add the number o f dead brothers and sisters.
Subtract 150 from the total.
And then the right hand figure w ill indicate the number of
deaths. The middle figure w ill represent the number of sisters. The
le ft hand,figure w ill be the number of livin g brothers.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 35
THE HINDOO MIRACLE.
A certain m agical dealer sold this trick—the secret alone—for
three dollars. It is one of the cleverest card tricks ever invented.
The m agician borrow s a hat, and hands a pack o f cards out to be
shuffled. He then drops the pack into the hat and covers it with a
handkerchief. The hat is then shaken violen tly by a spectator, the
furth er to m ix the cards. Then the perform er calls out the name
of a card, reaches in and produces it. He does this several times and
then shows the hat and cards free from preparation.
The m agician determ ines before hand w hat cards he w ill call for.
He clips these together w ith a paper clip, and keeps them at the back
of the deck. W hen the hat is borrow ed the p erform er says he is
going to hide the cards in the hat, suits the action to the w ord and
does so. W hen he rem oves the cards to have them shuffled, the
clipped cards are le ft behind. It is a v e ry easy m atter to find the
selected cards by the clip, and rem ove them one by one, but the p er
form er must rem em ber their order or he w ill not be able to announce
them properly.
36 THURSTON'S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
BACKWARD AND FORWARD.
An interesting fact about figures. Note that the result
reads the same, backward and forward, and is of two figures.
Take any number of 3 figures................................ 682
W rite the number backward............................................. 286
Subtract the smaller from the la rg er..............................
Divide by 9 ................................................................... 9)396
44
The number reads the same both ways, and this will in
variably be found to be the case.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 37
THE THURSTON ASTROLOGICAL CHART.
The study of astrology is useful and helpful to us in many
ways. It teaches how to judge the effects and influences of
the stars upon ourselves, and to fortell the future by their
varying aspects.
The reader will not, I trust, confound astrology with for
tune-telling, spirit-mediums, or psychic phenomena of any
sort, for there is a great difference between the two.
A strology is in no w ay connected with psychic forces. It
is a science, and, perhaps, the oldest science in the world. It
deals with the stars and plants, and their influence, direct and
indirect, upon living human beings.
A brief description of the character of those people born
under the Tw elve Signs of the Zodiac is given herewith, and
w ill be found useful in choosing harmonious associations in
marriage, friendship and business.
T o ascertain one’s calling, disposition, most common dis
eases, lucky days, etc., it is necessary for you to refer to the
month in which you were born.
It is sometimes difficult to carefully place a person whose
date o f birth occurs "on the line” as it is called. That is, if
the date of a person’s birth is December 21st, he w ill partake
of the qualities of the sign both preceding and following it.
38 THURSTON'S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
BORN IN JANUARY.
Those born in this month are positive, executive, deter
mined in their tendencies and want to be recognized as the
head of whatever they are in. They live largely in the ex
ternals of the world, and have a deep interest in nature, a high
ideal of love, harmony, beauty and social excellence.
In love and marriage, they are disposed to hold the sweet
heart or husband to an exact standard of excellence. They are
often jealous of imaginary slights.
Those born in this month are good entertainers; have a
good disposition, and will probably travel much. They are
diplomatic, and can write well, if they turn their energies
in that direction. They are very often m agnetic; they are
pleasure-lovers, and original.
Your married life will be happy. Guard well your actions
on the 14th and 20th days of each month.
Diseases most common: Indigestion and melancholia.
Best days are Tuesdays and Saturdays.
' Lucky stone: Onyx, ruby or moon stone.
Lucky numbers: 3 and 7.
Favorite colors: Garnet, brown, gray and blue.
Should m arry with those born in May, Ju ly or November.
BORN IN FEBRUARY.
Those born in this month are very intuitive and good
judges of character and human nature. They are successes
in mercantile interests and enterprises. It is said that the
best wives are born in this month, being always faithful and
devoted. Great sincerity and power are possible for those
born in this month. They rise to great heights, and on the
other hand, are inclined to sink to the lowest depths. A t times
they are inclined to be melancholy—a tendency which they
may overcome.
Most February persons have good taste, are quick at ab
sorbing information and intuitive. One of their great faults
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 39
is that they are inclined to be intolerant, and cannot make
themselves think from another’s point of view.
Diseases most common are of the nervous and rheumatic
orders.
Should guard their actions on the 9th and 16th day of each’
month.
Lucky d ay: Saturday.
Favorite colors: All shades of blue, pink and nile green.
L ucky stones: Sapphire, opal or turquoise.
L u cky numbers: 5 and 7.
W ill excel in music and art.
Should m arry with those born in October, Jan u ary or
June.
BORN IN MARCH.
Those born in this month are fond of study; they make
good students of history, and such studies as biology, scientific
research, travel, etc. They should make a success as lecturers,
teachers or newspaper correspondents. They are of vital,
magnetic temperament, people who take responsibility easily,
though they often suffer from excessive self-modesty, which
they must master, as it stands in the w ay of success.
People born in this month will generally travel much,
which suits them, as they are very restless in temperament.
They should first formulate in their minds exactly what to do
in life ; then bend all their energies toward realizing that end
and ambition.
Guard well your actions on the 1st and 19th days of each
month.
People born in March usually live long and die with great
wealth.
Diseases most common are of the digestive organs, with
pains in the back.
Favorite colors: A ll pale delicate colors.
Lucky stone: Moonstone or chrysolite.
Lucky days are Frid ay and Wednesday.
Lucky numbers: 9 and 1 1 .
Should m arry with those born in September, October or
Ju ly.
40 ' THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
BORN IN APRIL.
Those born in April are as a rule very independent in
thought, and cannot stand being under the rule of others.
They are fond of scientific and educational pursuits. In love
and marriage, they are ardent and passionate, and inclined to
become jealous over imaginary failings in the object of their
adoration. Fine musicians and artists are born in this month.
People born in this month should m arry, but only after
they have know each other for some time. They are often
great talkers, and should practice being alone a little every
day, and cultivate silence.
They should guard well their actions on the 12th and 22nd
days of each month.
Ailments most common are headaches a n d . indigestion.
Best medicines are rest and sleep.
Lucky stone: Amethyst or diamond.
Best days: Sundays and Tuesdays.
Lucky numbers: 4 and 7.
Favorite colors: White, rose or pink.
Happiest marriages will be those born in December or
Ju ly.
BORN IN MAY.
Those born in this month have great power and ability, if
only they choose to exert their abilities in the right direction.
They are naturally strong, though often restless and nervous.
They do not, as a rule, m arry young, but if they do they are
ideally happy. A ll persons born in this month have a great
power of loving and being loved; they are naturally attractive
and magnetic, and draw others to them by reason of this at
traction. They should make up their minds to do certain
things, and then determine that nothing shall stop them from
accomplishing their ambition.
People born in M ay have only to try to do great things
in order to accomplish them.
The disease most common is dropsy; best remedy is to eat
less and chew your food.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 41
Lucky day: Friday.
Favorite colors are yellow, red and brown.
L ucky stones: Moss agate and emeralds.
L ucky number is 6.
Should m arry with those born in January, September and
October.
BORN IN JUNE.
Those born in this month are inclined to be restless, anxi
ous and dissatisfied. They are very sympathetic and easily ex
haust their energies. They are fond of colors and flowers.
There is a tendency to judge from external appearances only,
without ascertaining the true motives behind actions. They
are inclined to go to extremes in everything they do. Live
true to your highest id eals! Think your own thoughts, and let
no one interfere with you. Be influenced by no'one.
Those born in Ju ne do not value money as they should,
and are apt to be too free in spending it. They should hold
fast to the idea that they can, if they only w ill; and should
make this their motto.
They are fond of art and literature and usually acquire
great wealth.
They will be loved by many.
Guard well your actions on the fifth*day of each month.
Diseases most common are throat and lung trouble; rem
edy, deep breathing and exercise.
Lucky day is Friday.
1 Lucky ston e: Dark blue stone.
Lucky num bers: 12 and 18.
Favorite colors: Red, blue, also white.
Should m arry with those born in June or November.
BORN IN JULY.
Those born in this month are especially noted for being
great hom e-lovers; they are very domestic, and are best seen
in that relation. The beautiful and artistic apeal to them ;
they are fond of clothes (often too fond) and like to be hand
42 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
somely gowned all the time. They make good wives or hus
bands, but are a little subject to flattery. They should learn
to disregard this and hold fast to their own opinions.
They are sensitive to slights and should always seek pleas
ant people and pleasant things, striving to realize that this
world is ju st what they make it.
Guard well your actions on the 3rd and 13th day of each
month.
They are intellectual and make brilliant writers and speak
ers and are frequently found foremost in civic work.
Diseases are most of the digestive and abdominal region.
They should Fletcherize.
Lucky day: Monday.
Lucky numbers: 3 and 7.
Lucky stones are emeralds.
Should m arry with those born in November, Marcn or
January.
BORN IN AUGUST.
Those born in this month are very independent thinkers
and have a fine intellect. Often, however, they are guided by
their intuition—and rightly. Their highest ambitions will be
reached in the intellectual sphere of life and work. People
born in this month should employ and rely upon their own
talents as the royal road to success. They are usually of a
cheerful, sunny disposition, fond of the good things of life.
Such people should realize their fiery dispositions, and make
an effort to control them. Persons born in August are apt to
w orry about their responsibilities a great deal, and this they
should learn to overcome.
They are people with strong individualities and have high,
noble ideas.
Guard well your actions on the 9th and 14th days of each
month.
Diseases most common: Weakness of lungs, heart trou
bles and violent fevers.
Lucky day is Sunday.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 43
L ucky stones: Rubies and diamonds.
Lucky numbers: 5 and 7.
Favorite colors: Green, red and brown.
Should m arry with those born in September and Decem
ber.
BORN IN SEPTEMBER.
Persons born in this month are very orderly and method
ical, as a rule, and should make good organizers. They have a
peculiar magnetism, and their hands are said to possess the
power of curing, if placed upon persons with that view. They
are capable of reaching great heights of fame as writers, pub
lic speakers and musicians. When inclined to literature or the
lecture field, they are champions of reforms, social advance
ment, etc., and it is said they have a positive genius for frit
tering aw ay money.
September people are very happy and usually gain suc
cess and powers before they die. They should try to be less
sensitive, and cultivate frankness of manner. They should
hold a high ideal in mind and endeavor to live up to it.
They are usually fine scholars, good musicians and make
excellent teachers or leaders in any kind of educational work.
Guard well your actions on the 10th day of each month.
Diseases most common: Stomach troubles and nervous •
conditions.
Lucky day is Wednesday.
Lucky stone: A pink jasper stone.
Lucky num bers: 4 and 9.
Favorite colors are brown and yellow.
Should m arry with those born in March, M ay or August.
BORN IN OCTOBER.
Those born in this month posses, as a rule, great fore
sight. They are full of hope and enthusiasm, and frequently
take to new ideas of various kinds. They are often psychic,
so that many spiritualists, and those interested in the occult,
are born in this month.
44 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
Those born in this month are very fickle, and are inclined
to flit from flower to flower like a bee. They are successful as
writers, poets and musicians. They are inclined to w orry
over things far too much, especially things which never hap
pen, so that this is all wasted energy. They have good minds,
and should learn to rely upon their own judgment, which is
good, and not be influenced by others. Those born in this
month should be greater actors and less dreamers.
Guard well your actions on the 4th and 12th days of each
month.
Diseases common for this month are of the kidneys and
back.
Lucky d ay: Friday.
L ucky stones: Opals and diamonds.
Lucky numbers: 3 and 7.
Favorite colors: Red, blue and black.
Should m arry with those born in February, May, August
or March.
BORN IN NOVEMBER.
Those born in this month are passionate, intense, and
have a great deal of magnetism. They do not suffer from cold.
They have strong appetites, strong sympathies and strong
tempers. Women born in this month love pleasure, and have
a great aversion for rules and regulations of all kinds. They
have great tact and taste. Persons born in this month are
original, have new ideas, are fond of change, can do a great
amount of work. People born in this month are usually good
story-tellers. They should learn to act as well as to dream.
They are successful as writers and artists.
They are most useful when connected with big schemes,
the bigger and more daring the greater the success.
They usually live long and useful lives, and die among
luxury.
Should guard well their actions on the 11th and 22nd days
of each month.
Diseases most common are lumbago and gout.
Lucky day: Tuesday.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 45,
Favorite colors: White, pink, green and black.
Lucky stones: Moonstone or topaz.
L u cky numbers: 1 and 3.
Should m arry with those born in December, January*
June or Ju ly.
BORN IN DECEMBER.
Those born in this month are bold, fearless, determined
and combative. They are sincere in their friendship, and
have loving, affectionate dispositions. They are apt to love
with whole-souled concentration, but resent any interference
with their views of individuality. They are artistic and
musical, optimistic and exceptionally honest. They are nerv
ous and high strung. U sually they have good health, and live
to a good old age. People born in this month are outspoken,
very honest in speech and action, and despise those who are
not. They must first understand themselves, and then every
thing will be swept before them. Should guard well their
actions on the 17th day of each month.
Diseases most common are of the chest and lungs.
Lucky d a y : Thursday.
Favorite colors: Black, red, yellow and green.
- Lucky stones: Diamonds and turquoise.
L ucky num bers: 5 and 7.
Should m arry with those born in June, October or Jan u
ary.
1
46 THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS.
Howard Thurston’s
CARD TRICKS
Being a complete manual on the A rt of Con-
« juring with Cards, including, among many
hitherto unpublished novel and unique ex
periments, a comprehensive description of
THE CONTINUOUS FRONT AND
BACKHAND PALM
WITH CARDS
---------a n d ---------
The Sensational New Rising Card Trick
As presented by the author in the leading
Theatres of the World, including the Palace
Theatre, London, for six consecutive months
FORTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS.
PRICE, 25 CENTS, POSTPAID.
Address:
THURSTON’S MYSTIC PALACE
BEECHHURST, LONG ISLAND, N. Y.
Or to the Theatre at which Thurston is playing at time
of ordering.
THURSTON’S EASY POCKET TRICKS. 47
100 TRICKS
WHICH YOU CAN DO
. . . BY . . .
HOWARD THURSTON
A Great Book for AMATEURS or PROFESSIONALS
Those who are desirous of adding to their knowledge
of the subject of magic and their stock of tricks can do
so by procuring a cop}' of this book, which describes one
hundred new and novel tricks suitable for any amateur.
They are non-sleight-of-hand and easy to perform. More
than one hundred illustrations with photographs of Mr.
Thurston performing these startling and illusive m ys
teries.
PRICE, 25c, POSTPAID
IT IS WORTH TEN TIMES THE COST.
Enclose 25c in Stamps, Postoffice Order, or Express
Money Order to:
*
THURSTON’S MYSTIC PALACE
BEECHHURST, LONG ISLAND, N. Y.
Or to the Theatre at which Thurston is playing at time
of ordering.
48 THURSTON’S E^SY POCKET TRICKS.
The Sphinx
HAVE YOU SEEN IT?
If not, you do not know what you have missed.
I f you have seen or had it, you know its value and
how hard it is _to get along without it.
The Sphinx is the only real M agician’s Magazine
published in America, and is the Official Organ of the
Society of American Magicians.
Have We Got You Guess
ing What The Sphinx Is?
The Sphinx contains: “Magicians’ Doings, News and
Comment About Conjurers and Illusionists in all Parts of
the Globe,” “Chats with Magicians,” “Literature,” “Ama
teur Department,” “Twists of Fancy,” “Uncle Feelix
Correspondence Column,” etc., etc.
The Sphinx contains New Effects, Sleights and Il
lusions, with illustrations and descriptions, which will
enable any Magician to make them up, or have them
made for him.
Every issue of this value Magazine should be pos
sessed by every one interested in magic.
Sample Copy, Only 10c
SUBSCRIPTION: $1.00 PER YEAR.
Address A. M. Wilson, M. D., 708 Waldheim Bldg.,
Kansas City, Mo.
If the sample pleases you, send 90c more for a year’s sub
scription.
M a g ic is the hardest p ro
fession in the w o rld to suc
ceed in. T h e A m erican
public has had but one suc
cessfu l M agician at a time,
HERRMANN,
KELLAR
and now
THURSTON.
• t g i K J * T H E P F E I F E R S H O W P R I N T C O ., C O L U M B U S . O H I O
4
TH EDITION =PRICE=
All New Tricks 25c
ma&sni