Modern Magic: A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring

Name this? A pocket comb. What have I here? A purse. What is this? A toothpick. This will puzzle you? Court plaster. Speak loud? A letter. Answer quickly? A handkerchief. Has it a color? White. Is it perfumed? Yes. Tell me now? Keys. Is this of any use? An almanac. What is this for? To burn a cigar. Do ladies use this? Yes; a pincushion, needlecase. Do you know this? A walking-stick. Now, can you tell this? A pocket-book. Would you like this? Yes; a watch. Do you admire this? A brooch. Who gave me this? A lady--a bracelet. What is in my hand? A pin. Now, who gave me this? A gentleman--a chain. What have I now? Money. Now, what have I got? A sovereign. Can you tell me again? A shilling. Is this the same? Sixpence. You say I have money; but you don’t say the kind? A florin. You say I have money; but you don’t say its value? A half crown. You say I have money; but tell me its value? Ten shillings. What is the value of the money? A penny. I cannot hear you? A halfpenny. I think I have given sufficient queries and answers to indicate the simplicity and the secret of second sight. When all the particulars of the articles are required, although the questions may seem perplexing to the spectator, yet they are extremely simple to the person who knows each question and its reply by heart. Here is an illustration of a complicated series of questions, and the reader will see at once that the answering is very simple: