The "Kismet" Envelope
(Norman Houghton)
This "Three-Way-Envelope" is the best we came
across. It is easy to construct (it takes you
less than two minutes); it's immediately reusable
and foolproof in its handling.
 Look at the illustrations on the last page. These show clearly
its construction. It is made from an opaque,
end-opening envelope measu-ring approximately
three-and-quarter by four-and-three-quarters
inches, and has a double partition fashioned
from one piece of paper, nine inches long and
folded at the bottom into the shape of an uneven
"V". This folded piece must match the paper
stock from which the envelope is made, and is
just slightly narrower than the envelope. The
partition lying on the flap-side of the envelope
is roughly an eight of an inch shorter than
the interior of the envelope; and the partition
toward the seam-side of the envelope is a quarter
of an inch shorter than its companion.
The partitions divide the envelope into three
compartments. Each compartment is capable of
holding a playing card, providing you with three
"outs". (Six "outs" are possible, if you were
to use three double-faced cards, as Mr. Houghton
has done in his original "Kismet" effect.)
The greates advantage of the Kismet Envelope
ist the natural handling its construction makes
possible when you wish to remove one of the
three cards it contains. (With this instructions
comes a sample Kismet Envelope with three cards
already inserted into each compartment.)
Now try this :
With your palm-down left hand, grasp the envelope
from above by its opposite long edges, seam-side
up and flap opened straight out to the right.
The thumb is at the near side, the fingers are
at the far side. If you press the thumb and
fingers lightly together, the envelope will
bow open. As a rule, the two compartments inside
will bow apart as well, opening the middle compartment.
If you now turn the envelope mouth down, the
card from the center compartment will fall out,
while the other two cards remain int their compartments,
pressed against the inside walls of the envelope
by the bowed partitions.
To open the top (seam-side) compartment, press
lightly down with your left forefinger on the
center of the envelope, just before the left
fingers sqeeze the sides. This will curve both
paper partitions dwon against the flap-side
of the envelope, and the top compartment will
bow open. The cards in the middle and bottom
compartments are trapped in place, and you can
safely tip the top card from the envelope.
If you wish to release the card in the bottom
(flap-side) compartment, first press the tip
of your right second finger on the underside
of the envelope, bowing it upward, before squeezing
the sides with the left fingers. This forces
both partitions to curve upward against the
seam-side of the envelope, and the bottom compartment
to gape open.
Should you experience any difficulty in opening
the desired compartment, you can quickly remedy
the problem by inserting your right thumb or
forefinger into the envelopeand pushing open
the compartment when required. And if you should
find that the center compartment consistently
refuses to bow open, separate the thwo partitions
with your fingers, then give the sides of the
envelope a sharp squeeze, putting a gentle crimp
in each partition. This minor preparation before
the performance will assure that the center
compartment opens properly when required. During
performance, of course, you can look into the
envelope to make sure that you have opened it
to the correct section.
All this is much more difficult to describe
than to do. Try it a few times and you will
immediately see how simple the operation is.
Tricks and routines with Norman Houghton`s
"KISMET ENVELOPE" are limited only by your imagination.
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