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For the sake of shifting the watch from one hand to the other, apply it when in the right hand to the left ear of the person, and when in the left hand the right ear. But if you can slip the loadstone up and down your sleeve, by using one hand, the feat is more curious.
to tell the number thought of by a person.
Desire the person to take one from the number thought of, and to double the remainder, then bid bim to take one from this double, and to add it to the number thought of; in the last place, ask him to tell you the number arising from this addition, add three to it, and the third of the sum will be the number required. For example—Let the number thought of be 6, if 1 be taken from it, there will remain 5, the double of which, 10, being diminished by 1, and the remainder 9 being increased by 6, the number thought of, the result will be 15, if to this we add 3, we shall have 18, the third part of which, 6, will be the number required.
to tell what remains after working a question in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and you not knowing any of the figures but those used in the addition.
Desire any person to think of a number; then ask him to double it; then name some number which he is to add to it; then ask him to take away half of the whole amount, and then deduct the figure first thought of, and the remainder will be just half the number you told him to add. For instance, let the figure thought of be 8, doubling it makes 16, adding six to it (as you tell him to do, and that is the only figure you know in the whole process of working the question,) gives 22; take away half, and 11 is left; from this deduct 8, the figure first thought of, and 3 remain—that is the half of the sum you ordered to be added.
to make a ball or loaf of bread dance upon a table.
Having a quill filled with quicksilver and stopped close, you secretly thrust it into a hot roll or loaf, which will put it in motion.
By means of quicksilver, many ludicrous feats may be performed.
An old lady on a Sunday was making dumplings, when two urchins, her grandsons, came to visit her, and being archly disposed, while her back was turned, conveyed some quick-
