Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-09-29
Vol. xix.

pItnS tue cNtenk Oh the unpoftdut ouulttOns
that will be made TO the medical science, eat
the flood Of light that will be shed upon tho
wonderful machinery Of man-which is sc
.'fearfully msde.''
| The audience listened to the lecturer, with
intense interest Afteryhe had concluded, he
stated that he would proceed with the expert
ments--that the girl selected to experiment
upon, he saw for the first time Thursday night
at her masters house, and then in presence OF
the family and number of acquantnces
that he then made upon her his first expert.
ments in Phreno-Magnetsm, which were com
pletely successful, and which he proposed to
renew. Another SUBJECT for experimenting
was negro boy Ben, upon whom Mr.. Wal
lace's son had made some successful expert
ments, and who he (Mr. F.) had never seen.
lie proceeded to prepare place for the pa
tent and was amonishing the audience to pre-
serve as much quiet as possible, when he was
| informed that DIR. Robert Richie had nearly
magnelised the girl and that she would be
| brought Immediately.
At this Juncture in stalked Ben, healthy
stout black boy of some fifteen wears of age,
having been already mesmerized by Young
Wallace. His eyes were closed and he NOV
ed along over the floor like a somnambulist.
Ills appearance created litter which soon
| rose to a bosterous laugh, which had no ap-
parent effect on Ben. Obetlient To the t.irec-
tons of young Mr. Wallace, and seemingly
unconscious of every thing around him. he
assembled the platform and was seated full in
front of the audience with lights beaming "a
round him, and looked fixed aud immoveable
as statute.
In little while the girl "Emma" entered,
with the same gliding somuambhlent move
ment, and was conducted by MIR. French
with whom she had been placed en- rapport
by DR.. R.) toa seat on the platform, where she
looked like another statute, as unconscious as
though she were dead
Ben was whirled back to the wall, and EN-
ma brought to the front of the stage, for pro-
ceeding with the experiments. This was done
under the direction of committee appointed
by the misunderstanding Of the following
gentlemen: Judge Beverly Tucker, professor
of Law of William and Mary Collegc,) Col
s. I'll. Parker, Qtegis,er of the Land Office
and Messrs. F. II. Grattan, J. II. Gilmer, VIM
B. Hamilton, G. A. Myers and VIM. S. Triplett
These gentlemen occupied the platform, to-
gether with MIR. +. and the patient. They in
vestigated the whole with the closest scruti-
ny.
Mr.. French stated that he was no Phrenolo-
gist, and requested ,hat if any gentleman pre-
sent understood the science he would come
forward and point out the organs upon the
head of the patient Mr. Henry Ludlam, who
had been student Of the science, came for
word accordingly. First lie pointed out the
| organ of Time, and on the instant the finger of
| the mesmeriser came in contact with II, the pa
tient began singing in suppressed tone, but
with remarkable sweetness and in excellent
time, "The last Rose of Summer'' While she
was singing, the operator, directed by Mr. L.,
spanned with his fingers the organs of Tune
and peneratfon, and the melody was imme-
dIateiy changed to spiritual song-The oper-
ator raising the finger from Tune and retain
ing 1t on Generation, she commenced the most
iervent ejaculation to the Deity. and in answer
to Mr.. French's enquiry Of "What's the matter
Emma :" she said, 81 am seeking Religion and
wish to join the church." These things com
| pletely electrified the audience.
| The operator then placed his finger on
JHirfh, and she laughed immoderatelv, and
with such unrestrained mirthfulness that the
effect seemed contagious-the whole audience
went off in a fit Of laughter so hearty and ire
sistible that il seemed difficult to recover from
It, So deeply and thrillingly interesting were
! these experiments, that the audience by degrees
crowded forward until the whole, Comprising
some three hundred, were huddled together in
an incredibly small space. Between the stage
and the first row of seats, there was space
! OF some eight feet, and in this was seated cross
legged on the floor, large number, among
whom were boys and grey haired men, such
was the Intense interest excited.
The experiments proceeded-the operator
spanned the organs Of Tune aud .Mirfh, and
the patient laughed through comic song
I ms created great amusement. Next she
was made TO weep and Immediately to laugh
The transitions from passion TO passion being
as sudden and complete as the shifting Of the
] fingers Of the operator. Sclfesteem was touch
ed, and she raised herself gave her head a lof-
ty and triumphant air, and smiling compla-
Gently, exclaimed, ''Ain't proud yes am
proud but am not too proud % Oh po
that would he impossible, as with many poor
creatures who have the organ strongly tlevel-
oped-they can't be too proud, so great are
their merits. and so splendid their qualifica-
| tions.-So Emma was not alone, although she
had her ''self-estccm" SO highly excited
| Mr. Ludlam pointed out Fear, and she drew
herself back and put herself ia posture OF
defence, remarking as well as we recolIect,
% and then struck This was the only
development that seemed not completely sat
isfactory--some said it resembled too strong
! ly combatveness but then may it not have
| been that there was an idea of menace and as
sault But indeed there was, no practical
phrenologist present, and Mr.. Ludlan only
protested to be accurate in pointing out the
most distinctly marked and well known or
gans. Whatever may be the opinions Of this