This code is described by various reliable authors. On page 388, Volume
III. of Hooper's "Recreations," edition 1782, it is stated that the
confederate worked the apparatus from another room. "By certain words,
previously agreed on, make it known to the confederate," is the advice
given to would-be conjurers.
Beckman in his "History of Inventions" relates that he knew an exhibitor
of a "talking figure" whose concealed confederate was cued to answer
certain questions, the answers being given in the manner of putting the
question, also by different signs. These instructions will be found on
page 311 of Volume II., edition of 1817.
[Illustration: Reproduction of front and back of original handbill
distributed on London streets in 1831, to advertise Master M'Kean. From
the Harry Houdini Collection.]
Decremps undertook to expose Pinetti's method of working the
second-sight trick in his famous book, but in this attempt he scored one
of the few failures which marked the bitter fight he waged against
Pinetti. In his book "La Magie Blanche Dévoilée" (White Magic Exposed),
first edition, 1784, he offers on page 40 "Les Cartes dévinées, les yeux
bandés" (The Divination of Cards with the Eyes Blindfolded). In this
feat Decremps explains that Pinetti would allow cards to be drawn, then
a lady (Signora Pinetti) would appear on the stage, would be
blindfolded, and would name all the cards that were drawn. Decremps
explains the prearranged pack of cards for this trick, also outlining
the manner of giving the medium the cue for certain phrases. For
instance, while explaining to the audience that he will not speak at
all, in the very sentences addressed to the spectators he informs the
medium which cards have been selected.
Pinetti's code must have been clever, as Decremps was unable to explain
the entire second-sight act. He has omitted the principal part of the
mystification, that is, naming the articles held up for the performer to
see.
That the card trick was only one test of his second-sight performance,
and that Pinetti's medium did not retire after naming the cards, are
facts shown by the following clipping from one of his announcements:
"Signora Pinetti will have the special honor and satisfaction of
exhibiting various experiments of new discovery, no less curious than
seemingly incredible, particularly that of her being seated in one of
the front boxes with an handkerchief over her eyes, and guess at
everything imagined and proposed to her by any person in the company."
Third on the list of second-sight performers, according to the data in
my collection, was Louis Gordon M'Kean, who created a sensation at the
Egyptian Hall Bazaar, Piccadilly, London, in 1831, or fifteen years
before Robert-Houdin, according to his claims, "discovered" second
sight. Young M'Kean was featured as possessing double, not second,
sight, and one of his bills is reproduced on page 212.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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