DOUBLE Clip Line Closely Guarded Secrets #1

Devin Knight Clip Line has become a classic of modern-day mentalism. The effect, in case you do not know it, is that the performer gives someone a prediction to hold. The performer then shows a column cut from a newspaper. He proceeds to clip off sections from the bottom of the column, inviting a participant to stop him at any time. Once the participant stops him, the performer has the participant read the last line of the remaining column. This appears to be a free choice; yet, when the prediction is read, it is found that the performer has predicted the exact line at which the participant stopped him. My mentor, Al Mann, once said in regard to Clip Line, “Rationality cannot account for it, unless psychic phenomenon is accepted.” The first reference I can find in print to this type of effect was published in 1954 by Jack Yates in his book Minds In Close-up. In it he included an effect called “Clip Line.” His method was based on a mathematical force and differs from the current methods of having the newspaper column secretly upside down. The principle of having the newspaper column upside down, unknown to the audience, was first introduced by Albert Spackman. He published his idea in October 1964. It appeared in THE GEN, Vol 20, #6. Len Graham came up with idea of pasting a headline to the inverted column, further concealing the fact the column was upside down. His idea was first published in the NEW PENTAGRAM, Vol. 3, #4, in June 1971. Soon afterwards, U. F. Grant released the idea in the United States. Karl Fulves also published the idea in his Self-Working Mental Magic book. Syd Bergson, Al Mann, Harry Lorayne, Richard Osterlind, Roy Miller, and Gary Williams have all published versions of this classic effect. T.A. Waters has a very intriguing version (using the old Clippo cut and restored newspaper principle) in his book Mind, Myth, & Magic.

One of the problems with the standard version of Clip Line is secretly reversing the upside down column (after sections were cut from the bottom) so it is upright again. If not done properly, some spectators may see through the deception. Unfortunately, some methods of reversing the column are painfully obvious to more astute spectators. In various online magic forums, many performers have stated that some spectators have detected them turning the column around so it was facing in the right direction. Even Al Mann mentioned in his Six Columns book that, in 1975 after performing the standard version for his wife, she saw right through the trick and left him feeling very stupid. After much experimenting over the years, I have developed what I think is an undetectable way to secretly reverse the column. What follows in this release are my ideas and improvements for Clip Line. Others may have thought of some of these ideas, but to best of my knowledge these ideas are original and were independently developed by me over the years. The main feature of this release is a version using two columns. The columns are numbered 1 and 2, and subtle techniques are used to throw off spectators who may know about the upside down column ruse. A

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second version, involving a single column, gives the participant the choice of whether the performer snips away from the top or the bottom of the column. Yet, the prediction is still correct. As far as I know, this wrinkle on Clip Line has not previously been published. Finally, there is a version where the participant does all the clipping away of lines in his own hands. The performer need never touch the column during this version, yet he has correctly predicted where the participant will stop cutting. In fact, this version could be done over the telephone. REGARDING WANT ADS: Some of the earlier versions of this effect suggested using a column of want ads. The version that U. F. Grant released was called Snip-Snip Want Ad Test. This is the version that Al Mann failed to fool his wife with. Karl Fulves, in his book Self-Working Mental Magic, also suggested using want ads. Al Mann and I had a discussion about this one time. He told me one of the reasons the trick failed was that his wife could tell the column was upside down. This is because of the way want ads are laid out, with most of the headings in all caps, it becomes obvious to astute spectators that the column is upside down. Mann felt a column from a news story was more deceptive than the want ads and could not be spotted from a short distance away. I agree completely. Having experimented with both news stories and want ads, I too have found that a reversed news story, especially when topped with a headline is nearly impossible to spot upside down from even a few feet away. THE BASIC SETUP You will need a specially prepared newspaper column for the first two versions, Double Clip Line and Clip Word. You will need a column cut from a newspaper. It can be anywhere from 10 to 12 inches long. I have found that around 10 inches is the perfect size. Make sure that the column contains only plain text with no headers or bold type, as this could tip-off the method. Some versions of Clip Line have stressed finding columns with text on both sides. With my versions, I prefer columns that have photos or ads on the reverse sides. That way, when the participant is reading the article, there is no chance of his getting confused and reading the wrong side. You want to find a newspaper article that has a headline that spans two or three columns. Once you have found such an article, cut it out, leaving only the first column and the headline. If the column was near the edge of the paper, there may be a white space along the left edge. Make sure to cut the white edge off, otherwise this could make it obvious to some spectators that the column is upside down. See Photo 1 for a column properly cut out.

PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2

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Cut off the column underneath the top first line of text in the column. This will leave the headline and one line of text. Turn the column upside down and paste it to the back of the top headline and first line of text. The bottom two or three lines of the upside down column are pasted to the rear of the headline. Once you are done, your prepared column will look like Photo 2. Look carefully at Photo 2 and you will see that starting with the second line the print is upside down. In Photo 2, the top line of text, “When government tells” is actually part of the newspaper with the headline. The second line of text that is upside down, “vocal foes. They profess to want,” is actually the third line from the bottom in the original column. The bottom two lines are pasted behind the top line, “When government tells,” and cannot been seen. From a short distance the column will appear normal. The audience will see what appears to be a headline with the story following. The audience should have no idea that the column is upside down. From a short distance the illusion is perfect.

DOUBLE CLIP LINE At the start of the effect, the performer gives someone a folded prediction to hold. The performer then shows two different news columns cut from a newspaper. One column has the number 1 written on it; the other has the number 2 written on it. The performer states he will cut away lines from both the tops and bottoms of both columns. He will do this until a participant tells him to stop. He claims his prediction will reveal the top line of one column and the bottom line of the other column. The performer snips away lines from both the tops and bottoms of the columns until told to stop. He gives the columns to two audience members to check out the top and bottom lines against his prediction. The performer’s prediction is 100% correct! WORKINGS: This is a very advanced technique for Clip Line. It has even been known to fool magicians who know the original version. The strong feature of this version is that both columns are numbered and that audience members can read the lines (on both columns) as you cut them away! You cannot do this with the standard version of Clip Line. Several ingenious subtleties make it extremely difficult to backtrack and figure out the method. You will need two columns. One is prepared as described in the basic setup, with an upside down column glued to a headline. The second column is unprepared. It is a regular column cut from a newspaper leaving the headline attached. Using a crayon or black grease pencil, write a 1 on the column that is secretly upside down and a 2 on the regular unprepared column. UThe 1 must be a straight vertical line. There can be no embellishments on it. It must look the same when view either upright or upside down.U Do not use a Sharpie-type marker, as the ink will bleed through the paper. The location of these numbers on the columns is of the utmost importance. Read the next section carefully, otherwise you will have visual discrepancies when you start cutting the columns. Both numbers have to be roughly two-thirds of the way from the tops of the columns after the headlines are cut off. DO NOT WRITE THE NUMBERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COLUMNS. If you do, the numbers will not be in the correct positions when you secretly reverse the columns, and the audience will be able to tell that a column has been turned upside down. The numbers should be about 1 ½ inches high. Refer to Photo 3. This shows both columns with the numbers in the correct positions for the effect to work properly. It also shows how the 1 needs to be made so it looks the same whether upside down or right side up. Look closely at the column marked 1 and you will see the column is upside down and glued to the back of the hospital headline. Notice that column 2 is unprepared.

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PHOTO 3

YOUR PREDICTION: Your prediction will be the last lines at the bottom of each column. In this example, although hard to see, the last upside down line on column 1 is “Letters from House Demo-.” The last line in column 2 is “Hotel occupancy in the.” In this example your prediction would be as follows: “I predict that the TOP line of column 1 will be: Letters from House Demo-. The Last line in column 2 will be: Hotel occupancy in the.” Write your prediction on a piece of paper. Fold it up and place it inside a regular envelope. A suitable manila envelope is enclosed with this release. You are set to perform. PERFORMANCE SCRIPT On a table have the two columns, the envelope containing your prediction, and a pair of scissors. Pick up the two columns and show them to the audience. At this point you are far enough away so no one

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can tell that column 1 is really upside down. Return the columns to the table and pick up the prediction envelope.

“Inside this envelope I have placed some predictions concerning these two newspaper columns. I would like someone to hold onto it for now.”

Hand the envelope containing the prediction to someone nearby to hold until it is needed.

“In a few moments I will use a pair of scissors to snip away lines from both the tops and bottoms of these columns. One person will tell me when to stop cutting away lines from the tops of the columns. Another person will tell me when to stop cutting off lines from the bottoms. I have made two predictions. If correct, one prediction will tell which line is left at the top of one column. The other prediction will tell what the last line is in the other column. Place the column with 2 on it on top of column 1. It is important to line up the bottom of both columns so when you cut off the headlines the columns will be about the same length. After you have done this use the scissors to cut off the headlines, leaving two columns roughly same size. See Photo 4. Photo 5 is an exposed view showing that column 1 is actually upside down.

PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 Once you have the cut off the headlines, briefly hold a column in each hand so the audience can see them. Then place column 2 in front of column 1, facing the audience. Refer to Photo 6. The column marked 2 is right side up. You can now get close enough for the audience to see the column is the way it should be. “I am going to start snipping off lines from the tops of these two columns, and I need someone to tell me when to stop. Sir, would you like to help? Please read aloud a few lines from the top, before I snip them off.”

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Allow your first participant to see the column and have him read a few lines. I suggest picking a participant who is wearing glasses to ensure he can read the lines. This helps confirm the fact the column is upright. No one outside of a magician in the audience should suspect otherwise.

PHOTO 6

“I am going to step back a bit so you cannot read the lines. I do not want you to be influenced by what you read. I will cut away sections and lines until you say stop. Please stop me before I cut into the number 2.” Hold the columns at one of their sides; your fingers should hold it near the middle. Cut off about an inch Ufrom the tops U of the columns for each of the first two cuts. After that, only cut off two or three lines with each additional cut. Continue until the first participant tells you to stop. “I am not finished yet. I am going to cut off lines from the bottoms of the columns, and I need someone else to tell me when to stop.” With column 2 still facing the audience, grasp the right sides of the columns with your right hand. Turn the columns downward, so they are horizontal to the floor. The audience will see the edges of the columns. Place these columns on your extended left hand. When you look down you will see the back of column 1. Because it is horizontal to the audience, they can not tell that the column is upside down. See Photo 7 for clarification. With your right hand slide off the top column (Column 1) and place it on the bottom. Column 2 will now be on top and face down. Both columns are still facing downward, as shown in Photo 7. Your right hand now grasps both columns at their right edges. Turn them over toward the left, just as if you were turning the page of a book. Once you do this column 1 will be on the top. It will be upside down to you. See Photo 8. Your right hand now grasps the two ends of the columns closest to your body and lifts them straight up while walking toward another participant. Column 1 will now be facing in the right direction and can be read by the next participant. I have found this method of reversing column 1 to be undetectable.

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“Would you like to help? Please read aloud a few lines from the bottom, before I snip them off.” Allow your second participant to see the column and have him read a few lines from the bottom. Again, this helps confirm the fact the column is upright. Photo 9 shows how the column 1 will look to your second participant.

PHOTO 7 PHOTO 8

PHOTO 9

“I am going to step back a bit so you cannot read the lines. I do not want you to be influenced by

what you read. I will cut away lines from the bottoms until you say stop.”

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Hold the columns at one of their sides; your fingers should hold them near their tops. Cut off two or three lines from the bottoms of the columns with each cut. UIn this case it does not matter if you cut into the 1.U Do not tell the participant to stop you before you cut the 1, just to stop you before you run out of paper. Continue until the second participant tells you to stop. Even if you cut into the 1, there should be enough left of each number on the columns to tell which is which. After the second participant tells you to stop, place the scissors on the table. Your right hand grasps both columns at their lower right corners. Turn the columns downward so they are horizontal to the floor. The long edge of the columns should be toward the audience. See Photo 10. Walk toward the first participant. As you do, your left hand grabs the top column (Column 2) at the opposite end and pivots the column forward, toward the participant, at the same tilting up the top short edge, so the column is upright. Hand this to the first participant. Column 2 will be upright and can be read by the first participant. Walk toward the second participant. While doing this, tilt column 1 upwards, hand it to the second participant. Column 1 will be upright and ready to be read. Photo 11 shows what both columns look like to participants after they have them.

PHOTO 10 PHOTO 11 This maneuver has secretly reversed column 2, in the process of handing the columns to the participants. “Let’s recap; two different columns were cut from a newspaper. I cut away lines from the tops of both columns until one person told me to stop. I then cut away lines from the bottoms of both columns until another person told me to stop. I had no control over when each person said stop. Had they stopped me sooner the top and bottom lines of each column would be different. I think we can all agree that it would be impossible for me to have known where each person would stop me. Is it really impossible? Please read my predictions.” Have your predictions opened and read. One participant reads the top line of column 1, and then the second participant reads the last line of column 2. Your predictions are both correct. Everything can be left with the audience with nothing to be found amiss. I suggest you retrieve the envelope for use again.

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CLIP WORD- Participant’s Choice- Snipping From Either The Top Or Bottom Of The Column This is an interesting approach to Clip Line. This version uses only one column. In the standard version, the performer normally snips off paper from the bottom of the column. When the participant says stop, the performer shows a prediction that correctly reveals the last line left on the column. In this version, the participant is shown an envelope. The performer says that inside is a prediction. It predicts either the first word in the top line of the column or the last word in the last line of the column. The performer explains that he will clip away lines either from the top of the column or the bottom of the column. The participant has a completely free choice. If the participant chooses to have the performer cut away lines from the top of the column, then, when he stops the performer, the prediction will be what the FIRST word is in the top row of the column. If the participant chooses to have the performer cut away lines from the bottom of the column, then, when he stops the performer, the prediction will be what the LAST word is in the bottom row of the column. When the envelope is opened, a single card with one word written on it falls out. The envelope is otherwise empty. This word matches either the first word or the last word in the column, depending on which direction the participant chose to have the performer cut. This is done without the aid of any secret writing or nail-writers. Since the participant had a free choice in which direction you cut, the final effect is quite mind-boggling to an audience. Do not under estimate the power of this effect! NOTE: Most versions of Clip Line have the performer predicting all the words in a line. In this version, I just predict either the first word at the top of the column or the last word at the bottom of the column. I have found that predicting a single word often gets better response and is more believable than predicting the entire line. The final decision is up to the performer. THE TWO PREDICTIONS: You actually have two predictions, but the audience is only aware of one of them. These predictions are concealed inside a special two-way envelope that allows you to reveal either prediction. A two-way envelope has been included with this release. I like to write the predictions on the backs of my business cards; one word on each card. On the blank back of one business card you write the first UPSIDE-DOWN word at the top of the column. This word will be at the left side of the column. For example, if you refer back to Photo 2, the first upside-down word is “want.” This will be the word you will have predicted if the participant has you snip away lines from the UbottomU of the column. On the second business card you write the last UPSIDE-DOWN word on the last line of the column. This word will be at the bottom right side of the column. In Photo 12, the last word at the bottom of the column is, “restaurant.” This is the word you will have predicted if the participant has you snip away lines from the UtopU of the column. THE TWO-WAY ENVELOPE: When you open the flap you will see two compartments. In the compartment closest to the smooth side of the envelope, place the business card with the word that will be predicted if the participant has you cut away from the top of the column. In this example, your prediction would be the word “restaurant,” since it is the last word at the bottom of the column.

In the compartment closest to the seam side, place the business card with the word that will be predicted if the participant has you cut away from the bottom of the column. In this example, your prediction would be the word “want,” since it is the first upside-down word at the top of the column. It is easy to remember which card is in which compartment. Just think of the smooth side as the top of the envelope and the seam side as the bottom. If your participant had you snip away from the top of the column, then open the top flap and buckle open the top compartment, dumping out the business card. You will find that while the envelope is buckled, you can casually flash the inside, showing it empty. The card in the other compartment is completely concealed.

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PHOTO 12 PHOTO 13 If your participant had you snip away from the bottom of the column, open the top flap and buckle open the bottom compartment, dumping out the business card, showing the envelope empty. Photo 13 shows the bottom compartment buckled open. Practice with the envelope, so you can quickly dump out either card without any fumbling. PERFORMANCE SCRIPT On a table you have a newspaper column prepared as described in the basic setup. You also have the two-way envelope containing both predictions. You also need a pair of scissors. In this version, you must be far enough away from the spectators so they cannot tell the column is actually upside down. “This newspaper column contains various words. I have made a prediction in which I try to pinpoint a single word that someone will stop me at. My prediction is inside this envelope.” Show the column with one hand and show the prediction envelope with the other hand. Return the envelope to the table. “For this experiment, we won’t need the headline.” Pick up the scissors and CAREFULLY cut off the headline and the first line of text attached to it. Refer back to Photo 2. In this example you would cut off the column under the line that reads, “When government tells,” leaving you with the upside-down column. “In a few moments, I am going to cut away lines from this newspaper column. I will either cut off lines from the top or I will cut off lines from the bottom. It will be the choice of someone in the audience. Obviously, his choice will affect the final outcome. Sir, would you like to help? I am going to give you a choice in a moment. I will either cut lines off the top or the bottom and you will tell me when to stop cutting. Whenever you say stop, I will give you the column. I am standing far enough away so you cannot read the words. I do not want someone to think we have prearranged something or that I told you to stop at a certain

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line. This way you can tell me when to stop, without being able to read the exact line. That will make the whole procedure fair.” “If you have me cut off lines from the top, then I will have you look at the first word at the top of the column after you stop me. If you have me cut off lines from the bottom, then I will have you look at the last word at the bottom of the column. Which ever way you decide to cut will affect the final outcome. Do you understand?” Make sure that the participant understands what you plan to do and what you have attempted to predicted. “The choice is yours. Do I cut from the top or the bottom?” Proceed to cut lines from the column, as soon as he tells you from which end to cut. “Stop me anywhere as I cut, you can stop me near the top, the middle, or near the bottom. The choice is entirely yours.” After your participant tells you to stop, you place the scissors back on the table. Take the column in your right hand and turn it downward so it is horizontal to the floor. The audience will see the front short edge of the column. Place the column on your extended left hand. When you look down you will see the back of the column. Because the column is horizontal to the spectators, they will not see the reverse side and realize the column is upside down. Your right hand now grasps the column at the right edge. Turn it over toward the left, as if you were turning the page of a book. Your right hand now grasps the end of the column closest to your body and lifts it straight up, while walking toward your participant. The column will now be facing in the right direction and can be read by your participant. Give it to him to hold. “Remember, inside this envelope is my prediction.” Pick up the envelope and open the flap. Buckle the envelope so the proper compartment is opened. Dump the business card face down on the table so it is in view. Casually flash the envelope, showing it empty. Do not show the prediction yet. The strong part of this effect is that a single face down business card is on the table BEFORE your participant reveals the word. In this example, we will assume your participant had you cut away from the top of the column. “You had me cut away from the top of the column. No one could have known where you would stop me. Would you look at the first WORD in the top line of the column and tell us what it is.” The participant says the word. “Please pick up the business card on the table and tell everyone what I have written on the back.” The participant picks up the business card and reads the word, revealing your prediction is correct. Do not sell this effect short. Giving your participant the choice of which end you cut from makes for a super-strong effect. It takes Clip Line to a new level.

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YOUR PSYCHIC FRIEND: It is possible to enhance the previous Clip Word effect even more and not use a two-way envelope. You tell the audience that you have a psychic friend (assume her name is Becky) and that she will attempt to reveal the word. Using a cell phone, you call your friend and hand the phone to your participant. Your friend proceeds to tell the participant what the word is. The participant need not tell the mentalist what the word is before he makes the call. Apparently, even the mentalist does not know the word until his psychic friend reveals it. This can be a real show-stopper, yet is extremely easy to do. METHOD: Beforehand, you have made your friend aware of the two possible words, the one at the top of the column and the word in the last line of the column. A simple code is all that is needed to tip off the correct word. Here is the way I do it. I either use my friend’s name or I do not in my opening comment. I call my friend; and, when she answers the phone I say one of the following, depending on the word. Examples Word is the first word in the column: “Becky, this is Devin, can you tell this gentleman the word he has in his mind.” Hand the phone to your participant. Word is the last word in the column: “Hey, this is Devin, can you tell this gentleman the word he has in his mind.” Hand the phone to your participant. NO-TOUCH CLIP LINE Here is an intriguing approach to Clip Line. It uses a well-known mathematical force, but it conceals it in such a way that it is barely recognizable. Both Jack Yates and Al Mann published versions of Clip Line using math principles. In those versions, the participant has to secretly choose a number from one to nine, cut off that number of lines from the bottom of a 30-line column, count the remaining lines, add numbers, cut that number of lines from the bottom, cut the original number off the top, then count down again to a certain position, etc. I found both of these versions to be too contrived with far too much counting. Besides being boring, it is a lot of work on the participant and there is much room for error. I felt there had to be a simpler way to use a math force. It had to be a fooler, with little room for error. No-Touch Clip Line is what I developed; I think it conceals the math principle in a very subtle way that will fly by most people. The effect is not suited for a formal performance. It was designed as an effect you do for one or two people in an informal setting, such as when friends come to visit. The effect is quite puzzling, and I’m sure many of you will really like this. WORKINGS: You will need a column cut from a newspaper or magazine. You want an article that has larger type with more than average white space between the lines, to make for easy counting of the lines. Many editorial pages have larger type and are suitable. Many magazine ads feature text in larger type with lots of white space between the lines. You must avoid using a regular column from a newspaper. The lines are too close together and hard to count. If your participant does not count the lines correctly, the effect will fail. Once you have the proper type of column, cut it so it contains exactly twenty lines of text. Ideally, but not necessary, I recommend trying to find a large-type column with no words on the reverse side. This prevents your participant from getting one side confused with the other. Photo 14 shows a column with 20 lines of the ideal size. Count down to the ninth line from the top and note the last word in that line. In Photo 14 the last word in line nine is “YOUR.” This will be the word you predict.

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PHOTO 14

The Prediction: On a piece of paper write, “I predict, after your two cuts, the last word in the last line will be (insert word).” The predicted word will be the last word in line nine. If you wish, you can predict the entire line, instead of the last word. PERFORMANCE SCRIPT “I would like to try an experiment with you using part of a column from a newspaper. I have made a prediction concerning what I think will be the result of some of your actions. I will not touch the prediction or the newspaper column until the experiment is over.” Give your participant the newspaper column containing 20 lines. Place your folded prediction on a table in front of him. You will also need a pair of scissors. Turn your back to your participant, so you cannot see what he is doing. “I want you to start with a newspaper column containing a random number of lines. This will be of your choosing. I want you to take these scissors and cut off a portion from U the bottom Uof the column. You can cut off just a line or two, or a block of lines. The choice is yours. UPlease cut through the WHITE SPACE and not an actual line.U All I ask is that you leave at least half of the newspaper column or more so you have enough to work with during the experiment.” The above procedure has eliminated the need to ask your participant to think of number from one to nine, count that number of lines and cut them off the column. It also eliminates the chance of his counting incorrectly and cutting off the wrong number of lines. Remember, the column only consists of 20 lines. You ask him to cut off a block of lines but to make sure he leaves at least half of the paper

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or more to work with. This restriction FORCES him to cut off fewer than ten lines. On the average, people snip off from five to seven lines. MAKE SURE HE UNDERSTANDS THAT HE IS TO CUT OFF FROM THE BOTTOM. You have just done the first part of the math force in a very sneaky way that completely disguises what you are really doing! “I think you will agree that no one could have known how many lines you would cut off and how many lines are left in the column. You had complete control over where you cut. I am going to ask you to count the lines left in the column, but don’t tell me how many are there. Please count them now.” Have your participant count the number of lines left in the column. The larger type, along with more white space between the lines, makes counting the lines much easier. Together, all these things help to ensure that he gets the number of lines correct. For this example we will assume there are 19 lines left. “I will have you cut off a few more lines based on the number of lines you have left. Assume you are left with 19 lines. You would add those two digits together (1 + 9) so you would come up with 10. Please add your two digits together and Ucut offU that many lines from the bottom. Tell me when you are finished.” If your participant had 15 lines left, he would add 1 + 5 to come up with 6. He would then cut six lines off the bottom. On the average, your participant will only have to cut three to five lines; so this is easy and nearly impossible for him to mess up. That is the beauty of this. No matter how many lines he has to cut away, the final piece will always have 9 lines left. The last line will contain the word you predicted. It is mathematical and works every time, regardless of how many lines he first cut off. Here are a few examples to show how this works: Participant has 17 lines left. 1 + 7= 8. He cuts off 8 lines from the bottom. 17 – 8 = 9 lines left. Participant has 11 lines left. 1 + 1= 2. He cuts off 2 lines from the bottom. 11 - 2 = 9 lines left. After your participant tells you he has done so, you say: “Great, please open and read my prediction.” Your participant then opens and reads the prediction. The prediction tells him the LAST word in the last line. Have him verify that the word is correct. All in all, you will find this to be a very puzzling Clip Line type effect. Again, keep this for those informal occasions when you want to show a friend something quite unusual. You can also do this impromptu when you see a suitable column in a magazine or a newspaper. Cut a section from the column so it has exactly 20 lines. Look at the ninth line and make your prediction. You are set to amaze. DOING THIS OVER THE TELEPHONE You can perform the No-Touch effect over the phone. All you need to do is mail a column with 20 lines to a friend. Include a note with the column asking him to find a pair of scissors and call you. Once he calls, have him do the cutting while you give directions over the phone. Ask no questions, outside of whether he is done. For a climax, reveal the last word. You will find this to be one of the most effective telephone tricks you can perform.

Devin Knight November 2010