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envelopes from the small table where they lay in full view。 He now
descended and rapidly returned the unopened envelopes to their
respective writers。
The basket is what is known as a 〃Billet changing basket。〃 It is
lined with red satin and is a small affair with straight sloping
sides。 It has a handle which； when down； locks two flaps up
against the sides of the basket。 This is done by two little
projections on the base ends of the handle。 They are of wire and
are bent into such shape that they project downward when the handle
is down； and hold the two side flaps up against the sides。 These
flaps are of pasteboard； and are covered with red satin the same as
the basket lining。 There is a spring in each flap which closes it
upon the bottom of the basket when it is released by raising the
handle。 Envelopes in the bottom of the basket are thus hidden and
retained； when the flaps are released； and the duplicates drop into
the basket； from the sides where they were concealed by the flaps。
This basket can be supplied by the conjuring depots； or it can
easily be made。 The handle can be made of wire and wrapped with
raffia grass which is on sale at the department stores。 A
pasteboard lining covered with red satin must first be sewed into
the basket； and then two flaps of pasteboard should be hinged to a
pasteboard bottom by pasting on a hinge of cloth。 A suitable
spring can be made of spring wire and sewed into position； after
which this is all covered with red satin and placed in the basket。
The basket should have sides about four inches high； and the bottom
should measure about seven and one…half by ten inches。 The sides
and ends slope outward； and the basket is open wicker work。
Suitable bows of ribbon on the ends of the handle and corners of
the basket conceal the mechanism。
In the present instance； the assistant behind the scenes； after
reading and placing the questions in duplicate envelopes which the
manager had previously numbered； sealed them and placed them in the
sides of the basket； bent up the flaps into position； and lowered
the handle locking them in place。 He now pushed this basket into
view on a table at the rear of the stage； and when the manager was
ready to return the envelopes； he scooped the dummy envelopes from
the table （where they lay after the bag was emptied） into this
basket。 He then lifted the handle which released the flaps；
covered up the dummy envelopes and dropped the originals into view。
These he took down and quickly distributed to the writers。 Being
numbered； this could be quickly done。
。 。 。 。 。
I will now describe the method employed on the third evening。 This
time dummy envelopes were placed in the sides of the basket； and
the handle left in a lowered position while the operator gathered
up the envelopes。 As the manager returned to the stage he took the
basket by the handle。 This released the dummy envelopes； and
covered up the originals retaining them。 He emptied the dummy
envelopes upon the small table and then laid the basket on a table
near the flies in the rear； and rather out of view。 An assistant
behind the scenes took out the original envelopes； opened them； and
as he read the questions repeated them into a small telephone。 The
wires from this telephone ran under the stage carpet to a pair of
metal plates with a tack in the center of each plate which pointed
upward。 These plates were located under certain spots in the
carpet and directly in front of the medium's chair。 There were
also two other pairs of wires leading to two other positions on the
stage。 The medium was dressed as a 〃Mahatma〃 on this evening；
wearing a large turban。 A large tassel dangled by his left ear；
completely concealing a small 〃watch…case receiver〃 which was
attached to this ear。 Two tiny wires led from this receiver；
inside his collar； down his person； and were connected inside his
shoes to other wires which penetrated the soles of his shoes。
These latter wires were soldered to copper plates which were tacked
into position on his shoe soles。 He now took his position in the
chair and placed his feet over the hidden tacks； which now
contacted his shoe plates； completing the circuit； so that anything
whispered into the telephone on the stage was repeated in his ear。
He then gave a few tests； tapping his spirit bell； which was a
signal for more information from the assistant。
He soon grew nervous and walked away giving a test as he walked。
He now paused in a certain position for a moment； placing his hand
to his head as if somewhat dazed and tapping his bell。 In this
position his feet were again over two concealed tacks； and he again
secured information for another test； which he gave as he walked
about。 He now paused in a third position and gave another test；
after which he returned to the chair； continuing his work。 This
maneuvering he kept up until all the tests were given； after which
he fell upon a couch exhausted； but with his feet from the
spectators。
The manager now stepped to the rear of the stage and took the
basket； which was now in place containing the original （？）
envelopes behind the flaps； and stepping to the small table he
scooped in the dummy envelopes； then taking the basket by the
handles； he stepped down the runway and rapidly returned the
unopened （？） envelopes to their writers。 The assistant had； of
course； sealed the questions in duplicate envelopes previously
numbered by the manager。 He had placed these behind the flaps； and
shoved the basket into view on a table at the rear of the stage。
I use a variation of these tricks in my double parlors。 I have
made a 〃billet changing basket〃 as above described； and have also
made a similar basket except that it contains no mechanism。
I pass cards and envelopes to the spectators in the front parlor。
When the questions are written and sealed in the envelopes； I
gather them up in the mechanical basket； I step to a table in the
rear parlor and apparently empty them upon it。 In reality； I have
just raised the handle so that the originals are retained； and the
dummy envelopes are emptied on the table instead。
I now step to an adjoining room for an instant； to get a small
decorated screen。 I secretly leave the basket containing the
original envelopes in this room and return with the other basket in
my hand in its place。 I place the small ornamental screen on the
table back of the envelopes； but leave the envelopes in view and
request the spectators to notice that I do not go near them until I
get ready to give the tests。 I now carelessly lay the non…
mechanical basket on a table in the room where the spectators are
and proceed with some other tricks。
Usually I give the series of experiments described in the chapter
entitled 〃Mediumistic Reading of Sealed Writings。〃 I state to the
spectators that I will not give the tests for the sealed envelopes
until later in the evening。
Meanwhile； should anyone think of such a thing； he can easily
examine the little basket； which he thinks I have just used； as it
still lies on the table in the front parlor with other discarded
paraphernalia； including slates； etc。 I use no assistant； so after
a time has elapsed； and when by the performance of other sealed
readings； suspicion has been diverted from the tests with the
billets； my wife retires on some trifling errand。 While out； she
opens the envelopes in the basket； prepares the sheet of questions；
and places it in the Bible； then she re…seals the questions in
envelopes previously marked by me； places them in the sides of the
basket； raises the flaps and lowers the handle。 She then usually
enters with some light refreshments for the spectators； which
explains her absence with a word。
I continue with other experiments for ten or fifteen minutes after
her return； then I gather up my surplus paraphernalia； including
the dummy basket； and carry all to the room adjoining the back
parlor； where I leave it。 I return instantly with the mechanical
basket which I place near my own table； and then I give another
experiment of some kind。
I now pick up the basket and announce that I have decided to return
to their writers the envelopes on the table in front of the screen
before attempting to give the tests。 I do this as if it were a
later notion。 I now scoop in the dummy envelopes； and raise the
handle； which action covers them up and releases the originals （now
sealed）。 I now distribute to the writers their envelopes； which I
can do； as they are numbered as described earlier in this chapter。
I request each sitter to hold his envelope until I shall give his
test。 Then I usually perform some other little experiment before
giving the tests。
I now take up my Bible； which I will stake I brought into the room；
unnoticed； when I returned w