The lecture is about psychometry. Psychometricians have the
ability to "see" and locate people by touching some
personal belonging. In this case, instead of revealing
information that may be of a confidential nature, the
Psychometrician is able, through the same power, to describe and
locate the owner of the article he handles. A dozen or so small
Halloween treat bags, party "loot" bags or small lunch
bags is all that is required to demonstrate this mystery in
Psychometry. Having left the platform to pass out about a dozen
of the bags to members of the audience, the Psychometrician
returns to the front.
Requesting that those with bags pay strict attention, the
Psychometrician tells them to put into their bags some single
article, a personal belonging that they happen to have with them.
It can be a fountain pen, tie clasp, ribbon, coin, knife, pencil,
handkerchief, ring, in fact anything of that nature that can be
concealed inside the bag. The Psychometrician demonstrates with a
spare bag how the top of the bag should be twisted shut. Stress
that all articles will be returned to them.
During this time the Psychometrician may be turned around or
even blindfolded so that he/she in no way sees what is placed
into any bag.
Once the bags are ready, the Psychometrician has them
collected by a member of the audience in a large basket or trick
or treat bag and brought forward. This person mixes them and
hands them one by one in random order to the Psychometrician. The
Psychometrician opens each bag and dumps the contents into his
hand. Turning whatever object it might be over and over, he/she
describes a person, giving a description of that person's
appearance, attire and approximate age. The Psychometrician then
holds the article for all to see and asks the owner to
acknowledge it. The person stands. He is exactly the one
described by the Psychometrician!
Another bag is opened and the article once more seemingly
gives a clue regarding the characteristics of the owner. This
time, however, the Psychometrician walks into the audience and
suddenly returns the article directly to its owner!
As each bag is handed him, the Psychometrician successfully
describes the owner or locates the owner in the audience.
