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caused me the greatest joy I had ever experienced。 At this moment
a secret presentiment warned me that success； perhaps glory； would
one day accrue to me in the apparent realization of the marvelous
and impossible； and fortunately these presentiments did not err。
The resemblance between two books； and the hurry of a bookseller；
were the commonplace causes of the most important event in my life。
It may be urged that different circumstances might have suggested
this profession to me at a later date。 It is probable； but then I
should have had no time for it。 Would any workman； artisan； or
tradesman give up a certainty； however slight it may be； to yield
to a passion which would be surely regarded as a mania？ Hence my
irresistible penchant for the mysterious could only be followed at
this precise period of my life。
How often since have I blessed this providential error； without
which I should have probably vegetated as a country watchmaker！ My
life would have been spent in gentle monotony； I should have been
spared many sufferings； emotions； and shocks： but； on the other
hand； what lively sensations； what profound delight would have been
sacrificed！
I was eagerly devouring every line of the magic book which
described the astounding tricks； my head was aglow； and I at times
gave way to thoughts which plunged me in ecstasy。
The author gave a very plain explanation of his tricks； still； he
committed the error of supposing his readers possessed of the
necessary skill to perform them。 Now； I was entirely deficient in
this skill； and though most desirous of acquiring it； I found
nothing in the book to indicate the means。 I was in the position
of a man who attempts to copy a picture without possessing the
slightest notion of drawing and painting。
In the absence of a professor to instruct me； I was compelled to
create the principles of the science I wished to study。 In the
first place； I recognized the fundamental principle of sleight…of…
hand； that the organs performing the principal part are the sight
and touch。 I saw that； in order to attain any degree of
perfection； the professor must develop these organs to their
fullest extentfor； in his exhibitions； he must be able to see
everything that takes place around him at half a glance； and
execute his deceptions with unfailing dexterity。
I had been often struck by the ease with which pianists can read
and perform at sight the most difficult pieces。 I saw that； by
practice； it would be possible to create a certainty of perception
and facility of touch； rendering it easy for the artist to attend
to several things simultaneously； while his hands were busy
employed with some complicated task。 This faculty I wished to
acquire and apply to sleight…of…hand； still； as music could not
afford me the necessary elements； I had recourse to the juggler's
art； in which I hoped to meet with an analogous result。
It is well known that the trick with the balls wonderfully improves
the touch； but does it not improve the vision at the same time？ In
fact； when a juggler throws into the air four balls crossing each
other in various directions； he requires an extraordinary power of
sight to follow the direction his hands have given to each of the
balls。 At this period a corn…cutter resided at Blois； who
possessed the double talent of juggling and extracting corns with a
skill worthy of the lightness of his hands。 Still； with both these
qualities； he was not rich； and being aware of that fact； I hoped
to obtain lessons from him at a price suited to my modest finances。
In fact； for ten francs he agreed to initiate me in the juggling
art。
I practiced with so much zeal； and progressed so rapidly； that in
less than a month I had nothing more to learn； at least； I knew as
much as my master； with the exception of corn…cutting； the monopoly
in which I left him。 I was able to juggle with four balls at once。
But this did not satisfy my ambition； so I placed a book before me；
and； while the balls were in the air； I accustomed myself to read
without any hesitation。
This will probably seem to my readers very extraordinary； but I
shall surprise them still more； when I say that I have just amused
myself by repeating this curious experiment。 Though thirty years
have elapsed since the time of which I am writing； and though I
scarcely once touched the balls during that period； I can still
manage to read with ease while keeping three balls up。
The practice of this trick gave my fingers a remarkable degree of
delicacy and certainty； while my eye was at the same time acquiring
a promptitude of perception that was quite marvelous。 Presently I
shall have to speak of the service this rendered me in my
experiment of second sight。 After having thus made my hands supple
and docile； I went on straight to sleight…of…hand； and I more
especially devoted myself to the manipulation of cards and
palmistry。
This operation requires a great deal of practice； for； while the
hand is held apparently open； balls； corks； lumps of sugar； coins；
etc。； must be held unseen； the fingers remaining perfectly free and
limber。
Owing to the little time at my disposal； the difficulties connected
with these new experiments would have been insurmountable had I not
found a mode of practicing without neglecting my business。 It was
the fashion in those days to wear coats with large pockets on the
hips； called a la proprietaire； so whenever my hands were not
otherwise engaged they slipped naturally into my pockets； and set
to work with cards； coins； or one of the objects I have mentioned。
It will be easily understood how much time I gained by this。 Thus；
for instance； when out on errands my hands could be at work on both
sides； at dinner； I often ate my soup with one hand while I was
learning to sauter la coupe with the otherin short； the slightest
moment of relaxation was devoted to my favorite pursuit。
II
〃SECOND SIGHT〃
＇A thousand more trials of patience and perseverance finally
brought to the conjurer a Parisian theater and an appreciative
clientele。 But he never ceased to labor and improve the quality of
his marvelous effects。＇
The experiment； however； to which I owed my reputation was one
inspired by that fantastic god to whom Pascal attributes all the
discoveries of this sublunary world： it was chance that led me
straight to the invention of SECOND SIGHT。
My two children were playing one day in the drawing…room at a game
they had invented for their own amusement。 The younger had
bandaged his elder brother's eyes； and made him guess the objects
he touched； and when the latter happened to guess right； they
changed places。 This simple game suggested to me the most
complicated idea that ever crossed my mind。
Pursued by the notion； I ran and shut myself up in my workroom； and
was fortunately in that happy state when the mind follows easily
the combinations traced by fancy。 I rested my hand in my hands；
and； in my excitement； laid down the first principles of second
sight。
My readers will remember the experiment suggested to me formerly by
the pianist's dexterity； and the strange faculty I succeeded in
attaining： I could read while juggling with four balls。 Thinking
seriously of this； I fancied that this 〃perception by appreciation〃
might be susceptible of equal development； if I applied its
principles to the memory and the mind。
I resolved； therefore； on making some experiments with my son
Emile； and； in order to make my young assistant understand the
nature of the exercise we were going to learn； I took a domino； the
cinq…quatre for instance； and laid it before him。 Instead of
letting him count the points of the two numbers； I requested the
boy to tell me the total at once。
〃Nine；〃 he said。
Then I added another domino； the quarter…tray。
〃That makes sixteen；〃 he said； without any hesitation。 I stopped
the first lesson here； the next day we succeeded in counting at a
single glance four dominoes； the day after six； and thus we at
length were enabled to give instantaneously the product of a dozen
dominoes。
This result obtained； we applied ourselves to a far more difficult
task； over which we spent a month。 My son and I passed rapidly
before a toy…shop； or any other displaying a variety of wares； and
cast an attentive glance upon it。 A few steps farther on we drew
paper and pencil from our pockets； and tried which could describe
the greater number of objects seen in passing。 I must own that my
son reached a perfection far greater than mine； for he could often
write down forty objects； while I could scarce reach thirty。 Often
feeling vexed at this defeat； I would return to the shop and verify
his statement； but he rarely made a mistake。
My male readers will certainly understand the possibility of this；
but