Get six blank cards, and write on them figures, or numbers, exactly according to the following patterns

You deliver the cards to a person, and desire him to think of any number from one to sixty; he is then to look at the card*, and say in which cards the number he thought of is to be found; and you immediately tell him the number thought of.

Egyptian Obelisk, In Central Park. New York.

Diagrams Of Experiments.

Explanation.

This surprising and ingenious recreation is done by means of a key number. There is a key number in every card viz the last but one in the second row from the top. From this explanation the reader will perceive that the key numbers are ], 2, 4, 8, 16, 32. Now whatever number is fixed on, from 1 to 60, will be readily found by privately adding together the key numbers of the cards that contain the number thought on. For instance, suppose a person thinks of number 43; he looks at the cards, and gives you No. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, as cards which contain the number thought on: you expertly perceive that the key numbers are 1, 2, 8, 32; which numbers added together make 43, the number thought on. Suppose he thinks of No. 15, he gives you No. 1, 2, 3, 4: the key numbers are 1, 2, 4, 8; which added, make just 15; and so of all numbers from 1 to 60.

This recreation may be varied many ways; as, telling the age of a person, etc.; but this is left to the ingenious reader's taste and application.