Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-07
tro BE CONTINUED I
RICHMOND WING.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. sEpT7.
PRIVATE THEATRICAI.sI

PRIVATE THEATRlCALs.
Yesterday morning there was quite buz in the
city. At every corner Of the streets, groups were
assembled. and from the earnest manner in which
they conversed, it manifest to the mos, casual
observer that something unusual and Of general in
terest had occurred.
Upon inquiry, it was ascertained that, the night
before. an exhibition of the wonderful phenomena
OF mesmersm had been made. which from the sue.
cess attending it, had created the most profound
sensation. Two young gentlemen, ct. and R.)
amateurs in the mysterious science, had been ma
king experiments, and sscerlained that they pos
sessed the mesmeretic power-lhe one to operate
and the other to be operated upon in very high
degree They tested their capacities several even
inss before parties of their ftienis-and, by the
tonishing phenomena exhibited, made crowds OF
convers-until ,heie farne fairly eclipsed tina, OF
Nj French himself They determined, Mondly
night, in consequence OF the urgent solicitations or
their votarie, and admirers, to extend the sphere
of their operation, a little. company OF some
twenty five Invited to witness the operations.
At the appointed time, the company, consisting OF
many stout here,ics. we'll true believers, as
semb!ed. Our contemporary Of the Enquirer, con.
spicuous among oil, graeed the presence. He, as
one Of the initiated, who had already witnessed some
Of tho wonders, opened the ceremonies in a few 70.
marks. He urged the importance of silence, and en-.
treated the company not TO press too tho patient
as a crowd would intercept the free circulation Of
the magnetic huid and weaken its effects Profound
silence en,ued. r. (the Mesmeriz ee) took chair,
and speedily transported to other spheres by the
mysterious influence exerted over him by t, (the
Mesmerizsr.) MIR Richie, who had brought his
handkerchief full Of pepper and flowers, etc. ard tho
Doctors their pill boxes, opened their stores. Clerks
took their seats at the table make minute of the
curious Developments. Then began the usual ex-
perimen,s. Wine, and water, end vinegar and pep
per were all tasted by Il. Uhe operaIor)-and r.
(the patiently guided by unerring sympathy tasted
the same things. A flower was pu, TO It's nose
r. smelt i,-A 25 cent piece was secretly slipped
into It's hand-R. being asked what he had in ais
hand, readily replied, silver. t. would stand at
the opposite side of the room, and by movement
OF his hands would raise those OF R.-"like bit Of
paper attracted by rubbed sealing wax" With eyes
closely bandaged, r. repeatedly told the time of
night 10 a minute, the watch being pressed upon his
forehead. This was most remarkable and unaccoun-
table, Numerous other experiments were made
which wrought conviction in nelry all present.
ana MIR. Richie pronounced the exhibition
infinitely superior in all respects, to Mr..
Freneh's After a sitting OF three hours, and
every test had been reiorted to-the young
operator remarked, that he professed TO do
moGe than MIR French did HE could explain
the cause of the phenomena, which had been ex
hibed, and which sesmed TO bail the profoundes.
in:ecc;s. Il was all a hunlJug and the paiient was
aoi5 WAS ~ hst 5yas@snd all iha. had bsen
them
This speech produced the most marked effects
upon the company-Some roared, some were sur
prscd at the facility with which they had been dup.
ed-but the picture, which the venerable Editor
presented. was pi,eous TO behold! Had the gulf of
perdition been yawning before him, he could not
have worn more CHASTITY appearance. As soon
as he recovered his senses, he frankly confessed,
that he had been completely hoaxed-but he roared
out foe Mr. French, and avowed the discrimination
to appeal to that een,eman's honor to know f he
had praeiised an imposition, and TO demand another
exhibition.
The whole scene was the richest ever enacted in
real e-nnd 10 hear those, who were in the secret,
give detail OF all that passed, is laushabc beyond
any thing we ever heard One ofthe most surprising
things Of the whole, is that the Magneiser and the
paten. could repress their laughter at some of the
occurrences Of the eveninsl-For instance, when il
was proposed aloud to make some new experiment
Some one suggested that the patient would over
hear ito never fear that-(sad Mr. Rilehie)-
you may as we'll talk to a dead mani"
Thus sinks to rest one Humbug. Il is a beaui-
full custom Of the East to s,rew flowers over the
graves Of the dead-and we commend that mean-
choly and pleasing duty TO Old Mesmer himself-if
he survives amid the wreck.
The young gentlemen, who have thus ingenious.
y exposed this de,estible Humbug TO the ridiculc
and con;emp, Of the public richly deserve the pub
lie thanks and the people OF Richmond are under
obligations to them for the heariest nnd mos, uni
versal laugh they have enjoyed since the very foun-
da,ion Of the City.
MR TYIRR Ann THE ppo-rge-,