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The Table of Contents is placed after the Preface.
This book contains illustrations showing some of the tricks described. The illustrations are available in the HTML version. In this text-only version they are replaced by the place-holder "[Illustration]", but in the section "Match Puzzles", some simple ASCII diagrams have been created to represent the matches when possible.
In the text-only version, italic type is marked _like this_, and bold face *like this*. Footnotes are represented with uppercase letters in square brackets.
Two publisher's advertisement pages were placed at the beginning of the book in the printed edition, in this version they have been moved to the end, with the other advertisement pages.
A list of changes to the original publication is given at the end.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "LATEST SLEIGHTS AND ILLUSIONS," "HERCAT'S CARD TRICKS," "CONJURING UP TO DATE," "HERCAT'S VENTRILOQUIST," "HERCAT'S CHAPEAUGRAPHY, SHADOWGRAPHY, AND PAPER FOLDING," ETC.
[Illustration: D&S limited] London: DEAN & SON, Ltd., [Illustration: Hamley's 160a, 35, NEW OXFORD STREET, Fleet Street, LONDON, W.C.] E.C. 1912
The title of this little brochure indicates its contents. _Simple Tricks_ and simple tricks only. No apparatus is required and but little sleight-of-hand is needed in the performance of any of them. They consist of a series of tricks and problems, easily acquired, suitable for gatherings round the table on winter evenings. Some of them are new and many are old; but even the oldest are new to the rising generation. For six of the latest tricks,--"A Hindoo Swindle," "The Elusive Match," "A Subtle Impromptu Effect with a Coin," "A Novel Card Effect," "An Artful Card Force," and "Another Easy Card Force,"--I am indebted to my friend Mr. F. Walford Perry, a thoroughly up-to-date and original young conjurer. As I have already said, I have included no tricks which require the exercise of much sleight-of-hand; but even the most simple trick should be thoroughly practised before you present it to your friends, especially those tricks which require the assistance of a confederate. Rehearse everything with him thoroughly beforehand. Even your "patter" should be rehearsed. But endeavour to lead your audience to believe that, like "Mr. Wemmick's" marriage, it is all impromptu. He said, "Hello! here's a church. Let's have a wedding." You say, "Hand me that serviette ring and I'll show you a trick." If, when the contents of this little volume have been thoroughly digested, my readers desire to make a study of more advanced legerdemain, I recommend my _Conjuring Up to Date_, _Card Tricks with and without Apparatus_, and _Latest Sleights and Illusions_ to their notice.