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Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring
·
Professor Hoffmann
64
We
have
endeavoured
to
be
as
explicit
as
possible
in
the
foregoing
description
of
the
different
sleight-of-hand
processes,
so
that
the
reader
may,
by
following
our
instructions
closely,
be
able
to
teach
himself,
unassisted,
to
perform
the
various
movements
described.
We
have
done
our
best
to
make
our
descriptions
intelligible,
and
trust
that
we
have
fairly
succeeded.
We
should,
however,
strongly
advise
any
student
who
desires
to
make
rapid
progress
to
take,
if
possible,
a
few
preliminary
lessons
under
the
personal
guidance
of
a
competent
performer,
professional
or
amateur.
It
is
an
old
saying
that
an
ounce
of
example
is
worth
a
pound
of
precept,
and
a
reader
who
has
once
or
twice
seen
the
processes
we
have
described
practically
illustrated
by
skilful
hands,
will
not
only
avoid
the
difficulties
which
are
sure
to
be
at
first
found
in
even
the
clearest
written
instructions,
but
will
escape
the
formation
of
bad
habits,
which
it
may
take
much
time
and
trouble
to
eradicate.
Should
the
novice
seek
such
assistance,
he
must
not
expect
to
find
that
any
one
performer
uses
indifferently
all
the
processes
we
have
described.
Every
Professor
has
his
own
favourite
methods
of
procedure,
and,
generally
speaking,
pours
scorn
and
contumely
upon
all
others;
or,
in
the
words
of
Byron
(a
little
altered)--
“Compounds
for
sleights
he
has
a
mind
to,
By
damning
those
he’s
not
inclined
to.”
The
student
who
commences
his
labours
without
such
assistance
must
make
his
own
selection.
In
the
“pass”
we
should
recommend
him
to
stick
to
the
first
method,
the
remaining
passes
being
rather
curious
than
useful.
Among
the
false
shuffles,
the
first,
third,
fifth,
and
sixth
will
be
found
the
most
effective.
For
the
remaining
processes
he
may
be
guided
by
his
own
taste,
and
the
greater
or
less
facility
with
which
his
fingers
adapt
themselves
to
one
or
the
other
of
them.
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