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make a point of securing a copy of "The New Yorker" for November 29th. There is a very amusing article on one Joseph Dunninger. There are sly digs at J. D's. huge money awards to the spook sponsors, and a lot of amusing bits about his life and experiences. I got quite a kick out of one line that said, "The mediums who have appeared before him have generally explained that they failed to do better because no self-respecting spirit would be seen dead in a room with Dunninger."
Martin Gardner has recently produced a cute mental stunt called "Mother Goose Mystery," While it may sound like a recent thriller of Agatha Christie's, it's really a simple little thing that even I have been able to do. A very fair selection of a group of cards determines the page in a Mother Goose book and also the word. You, however, have no trouble in predicting the word. And, the nice part is you can immediately repeat it with the same person and still fool 'em. So, if you're a dillar, a dollar, a magical scholar, get Gardner's Mother Goose 'cause it's only a dollar. I like it!
Questions and Answers
For the first time in six years of answering questions ... I've actually lost a letter. Can't remember who it's from but I have an envelope postmarked Saginaw, Mich. The address was written in pencil.. . maybe that will remind some chap who has been patiently awaiting a reply. Sorry! Send in the request again and I'll look it over and guarantee not to overlook it.
JACK McALEESE of Australia, sends thanks for assistance obtained from this department. He informs me that Frank Stob-bart of Saginaw paid to have a year's back numbers of TOPS mailed to him and that Percy Abbott has promised to send him a year's issue. Thanks and thanks again, Frank and Percy. Reader McAleese's letter just bubbles with sincere appreciation.
R. P. SEYFER, JR., says he's a newcomer to Magic but he's very eager to get in touch with any wand wielders who might be in the vicinity of Houston, Texas. He has met -~r a few of the wandering wizards and is re anxious to chat with any chap who dabbles in chicanery. So, if you're passing through his
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Well, well... so this is the beginning of Volume Seven! It doesn't seem possible that six years have slipped by since the first copy of TOPS made its appearance. Now the magazine has increased in size, and probably has the healthiest circulation in magical magazine history. There's no telling how large it will grow during the next six years. Congratulations, and best wishes are certainly due to Percy Abbott and his staff. They have given Magicians a big dollar's worth in each volume to date, and as it's their intention to increase the material at no increase in cost, the next year of TOPS will certainly prove to be the biggest magical value available.
Magicians, who from time to time have visited Toronto, are well acquainted with Whit-lam's Magic store in the Arcade. A couple of years ago, Joe Whitlam died, and the business has been carried on by Mrs. Whitlam. They will be grieved to learn that she has now passed on. Suffering a stroke on November 13th, she never regained consciousness and passed away on November 17th. At the present time, relatives are carrying on the business.
"The Figure Fiend" by R. A. Burley and published by Nelmar, is one of the latest publications to reach this department. Several familiar bits, but as a whole quite a different act with figures. Complete with lecture, too. There are many subtle bits that a good showman will sell to excellent applause. A couple of the problems are just a bit too miraculous to be accepted as genuine head-work. However, if you can add two and two, and other simple bits of figure work, you'll be able to present this act which will positively astound the customers.
The seventy-page mimeographed publication is beautifully bound and stamped in gold. At five dollars it is cheap for the performer who will devote the time to getting the act under way and then actually work it. I'd say it is one of the best books of its kind.
If you didn't read it, you should certainly
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