Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

CHAPTER XII. TRICKS WITH DOMINOES AND DICE. TO ARRANGE A ROW OF DOMINOES FACE DOWNWARDS ON THE TABLE, AND ON RETURNING TO THE ROOM TO TURN UP A DOMINO WHOSE POINTS SHALL INDICATE HOW MANY HAVE BEEN MOVED IN YOUR ABSENCE.--This is a capital drawing-room feat. You place a row of twenty dominoes face downwards upon the table, avoiding as far as possible the appearance of any special arrangement, but nevertheless taking care that the points of the first domino (commencing from the left) shall amount to twelve, the points of the second to eleven, and so on, each decreasing by one point till you reach the thirteenth, which will be the double-blank. The points of the remaining seven are a matter of indifference. You now propose to give the company a specimen of your powers of clairvoyance, and for that purpose leave the room, first requesting the company to remove during your absence any number of dominoes (not exceeding twelve) from the right to the left hand of the row, in other respects retaining their order. On your return you advance to the table, and address the company to the following effect: “Ladies and gentlemen, as I have already told you, I have the privilege of possessing the clairvoyant faculty, and I am about to give you a specimen of my powers.