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Card Sharpers
Excerpt from Card-Sharpers
ON many occasions when I have been honoured by the Bench by being consulted as an expert in trials for cheating, I have been frequently impressed by the fact that the want of knowledge of the subject has been an impediment in the path of the judge. How, indeed, could he be expected to understand the subtle schemes of the professional sharper? How put his finger on the point in question, when he knows nothing of the rascal's cunning manoeuvres? By a singular contradiction to the ordinary course of justice, while the offender, armed with tricks and audacity, is strong, the judge is practically without defence and helplessly weak. Devoted for a part of my life to the study of conjuring, and having given my time to the amusement of the public, I am of opinion that the time has arrived to return to my supporters, who have honoured me with their applause, a not equivocal mark of~ my gratitude in devoting my leisure to their service. I have therefore written this work, the object of which may be summed up in this self-evident truth: Enlighten the dupes and there will be no more cheats. But is it sufficient that a truth be uncontestable for it to be uncontested? I do not believe it; and, to prove it, I myself advance to meet a probable objection.
ON many occasions when I have been honoured by the Bench by being consulted as an expert in trials for cheating, I have been frequently impressed by the fact that the want of knowledge of the subject has been an impediment in the path of the judge. How, indeed, could he be expected to understand the subtle schemes of the professional sharper? How put his finger on the point in question, when he knows nothing of the rascal's cunning manoeuvres? By a singular contradiction to the ordinary course of justice, while the offender, armed with tricks and audacity, is strong, the judge is practically without defence and helplessly weak. Devoted for a part of my life to the study of conjuring, and having given my time to the amusement of the public, I am of opinion that the time has arrived to return to my supporters, who have honoured me with their applause, a not equivocal mark of~ my gratitude in devoting my leisure to their service. I have therefore written this work, the object of which may be summed up in this self-evident truth: Enlighten the dupes and there will be no more cheats. But is it sufficient that a truth be uncontestable for it to be uncontested? I do not believe it; and, to prove it, I myself advance to meet a probable objection.
187 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 1879
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About the author
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin
102 books8 followersJean Eugène Robert-Houdin (December 6, 1805 – June 13, 1871) was a French magician. He is widely considered the father of the modern style of conjuring.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 6, 2019
Unimpressed. Most the anecdotes recounted are unbelievable, and the "tricks" of the sharpers the author purports to reveal - well, one could learn more from a YouTube video.
April 9, 2018
Some great tips for how and how not to cheat at cards in the 19th century, presented with a very slight wink as to whether the book is aimed at potential victims or aspiring cheaters. But the meat of the methods is padded with overlong anecdotes and an interminable show-off section of exactly how to stack and deal a deck to win (or rather impress your friends as a public service) at a sequence of particular card games.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews