A Torn Letter

Effect

The performer picks up a packet of four-inch square papers. “I have here,” he says, “the 26 letters of the alphabet cut from a type of paper not available to the public. You, sir,” addressing some member of the audience, “will please think of someone who was a close relative or friend - someone not now living - what is the initial of his first name?” Let us suppose the letter mentioned to be M. The performer hands the packet to the person with the request that he look through - they all are in order - and remove that particular one.

During this interval the mysticist shows two slates. “These are available to the public,” he says, “and we shall use them in a way to prove beyond reasonable doubt that something strange is at work here tonight.” He openly shows the slates to be clean of anything foreign and at the same time marks the sides 1, 2, 3 and 4. Put together, the slates are handed to the spectator as the performer takes back the letter, in this case M.

“When people or things on this earth are destroyed,” he continues, “the meaning, the spirit, or the soul flies into another level of being.” The performer, during this, is tearing the lettered paper into strips and the strips into parts. He makes them into a flat bundle and approaches the man with the slates.

Opening the slates just a little he definitely drops the paper within. And he takes back the remainder of the alphabet papers when he steps away. “Now let's sec if conditions are right for a successful contact with your thought in what spiritualists see fit to call “the happy summerland.” The performer paces back and forth several times, covering a short distance. No talk is necessary. The audience always waits.

Then the spectator is asked to get up and come forward. He opens the slates. “Take the paper,” says the performer, who then takes the slates. He shows the inside surfaces. Upon one slate appears a message somewhat like this, “Dear Harry: Conditions are good here. It's not the same as before but I'm as happy as I deserve to be.

I've put my initial back together again in case Annemann (or your name) wants to make contact for someone else.” The performer looks at his subject, “You are Harry?” And when the person admits it, he further asks, “Open up the pieces of paper.” The torn pieces are in restored fashion and the letter M goes back to the packet. And there isn't anything to be found wrong with the visible and available objects used before the audience.