Gabbatha

Dabblers in things of a spiritualistic nature should be interested in the following effect which has been routined for small gatherings of the intimate type. It can be carried in the vest pocket and performed practically impromptu at any time. Its running time is about seven minutes.

The performer asks a spectator to write the initials of a dead person on one of seven small white cards, explaining that from this point on the card will represent the deceased person and that his burial will bere-enacted. On the six remaining pasteboards, the spectator is told to write the initials of six living persons who will act as pall-bearers for the “dead” man.

This done, the “dead name card” is to be placed somewhere in the stack of pall-b earers, while the performer stands at a distance. Picking up the stack of seven cards at fingertips, the performer drops them in a borrowed hat, calling this the “cemetery.”

He then explains that the dead man was a sincere believer in spiritualism and that he had left a pair of sealed slates with a friend sometime before his death, stating that he would attempt to “come back” and manifest his return. At this point the performer exhibits two small slates, numbers the four sides, binds them together with a rubber band, and hands them to a member of the audience.

Suddenly remembering the “pall-bearers” are still in the “c emetery,” he remarks that it might be a good plan to see that they got home safely. Holding the hat high above his head, he ha s a spectator reach in and mix up the cards after which six of them are removed, one by one, and laid face down on the table, leaving one in the hat.

The performer now asks the spectator to examine the cards to see if the correct one was “buried.” The cards are turned face up and prove to be the six “pall-bearers.” The slates are opened by the person holding them, and on one side are the two initials which match those on the “dead name card” remaining in the hat! Gabbatha!