The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-29


We are frequently forcibly struck with remarks
we hear concerning Mormonsm and various other
superstitons which daily springing up. Men ex-
press the greatest establishment that people be so
deuded as credit the pretensions of 10. Smith, and
believe him to Dc sPeca ah messenger from meaten
The world is filled with superstition. The juggler,
who by nicely contrived machinery, deceives the eye
the yentroquist, who, by well adapted modula-
ton of the voice, deceives the ear, believed by
many 10 be in league with the powers of darkness.
How many, after the shadows of night have fallen
upon the earth, tremble at the signing of the
wind and ready 10 cry out IN agony ofear at the
rustling of leaf or the breaking of twg. 1t is a
part of the education of nine children out OF ten, to
be frightened into quiet behaviour and silence by
some hobgobn or other frghtful tale which is fear
fully reflected by their wrought-up imaglnations and
the influence of which is never wholly shaken of in
after life In proportion as the mind is more or less
deficient in strength, is it affected
We should cease to be surprised at the success of
Matthias or at the swift and constantly increasing
accession of numbers TO Mormonism, when we see
educated and intelligent men lending themselves to
the mysteries of Mesmerism, or in other words AMI
NAL Magnetism. Why should we wonder that cum
ming and designing men should impose on the credu-
lty of the ill-informed and inexperienced when we
behold those who have had the benefit of all the lights
of wisdom and experience yielding to creduty, and
acknowledging the possible existence of a science
which conflicts with the designs of the great Arch-
tect of the Universe, and stabs OF the very ytas Of
the Christian religion
To believe in Animal Magnetism one is, er neces-
state compelled to give credence to the dogmas Of
phrenology and it goes far, far beyond the absurd-
ties of that visionary theory Call it by what name
you please-neurology or any other new-iange Sterm
it is at best but wild scheme which when cleyerly
explained by one who possesses a smatterng OF sci
ence and can talk earnedly in phrases that Jingle in
the ears of everyday people, seem credible enough
though wonderfully enough too
Any one who understands the anatomical structure
of man. and knows the locations of the brain, en-
cased il is by firm bone, that will not yield to the
pressure of mans hand or the nature of it, that
when pressure is upon it, of sufficient force to be
perceptible, from the exterior, something very like
conclusion will be the consequence, will be at loss
to perceive or comprehend how these effects, boosted
of by rubbing mans Uranium, are produced. Ii is
enough to hear learned philosophers dilate upon the
science par erceience) of phenoogy, and profess to
read man. nature as though 1t were mapped on his
head; when excellent and highly gifted ANTAGONISTS
have demonstrated that the inner portion Of the hui
man skull not only does not exhibit cavity cores
pondng to the protuberance on the external part, but
that in fact there corresponding pfouberance in
the nernal--thus diminishing the size of any particu-
lar organ, instead of magnfyng It. But our
credulity is still further taxed. We are now
told that by rubbing different bumps different sensa-
tons produced If the organ Of combativeness is
pressed by the fingers of the magnetism the greatest
coward in christendom will feel disposition to fight.
Without meaning any insinuation, neighbor of
the Journal would do well to have his rubbed pretty
hard about the time DR.. Hagan comes this way.
By pressing slightly side of the head, sin
gular acuteness of the Of touch is produced
the same effect that microscopic glass would have
under the eye. BY pressing another, an inclination
to sing is forced when the victim of this quackery,
perhaps never was able to turn tune in the natural
state. BY magnetisng other bumps the professor of
acknowledgements is enabled to throw his pa
tent into deep sleep, and yet to hold continued
receive coherent answers and The slumberng fair
moreover is able to tell like the Miss in the nursury-
game what hangs heavy over head" where it is
| impossible to
| The humbug has been thoroughly exposed at the
east, although there many sensible and well in
formed persons who pretend that
g There more things between heaven and earth
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy"