The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-02-07

|
| Experiments IN Neuoogy-C""'"**'s Erpri-
ments IN Christianity.
| DEAR BENNETT -
| We are all dying of laughter Animal Magnetism
has been riding on the high horse in Albany for the
last six months, and almost revived the days of Sa-
lem witchcratt! Doctors, lawyers, clergymen, poll
ticans, day laborers, pretty women, and little chill
dren, have all run wild with excitement in telling of
| the doings OF this wonder working mystery. This
will account for the hoax played upon them during
the last three months,by tall sleepy looking youth
from Vermont the explosion OF which has produced
this terrible paroxym Of laughter, which has con
vulsed the dlaphragmrs Of the whole city.
| IL appears that while some OF The citizens were
| carrying on their magnetic operations, aud declar.
Ing that they had made wonderful cures, the Profes
| sors of The College, whom they endesvored to con-
vince, fell hack upon their dignity and told the mag.
netzers wi significant smile, that they had no time
| for the cultivation OF humDug This redoubltd the
| magnetic al. Passes, sympathy. voiiiion, som
| oambnlism, c'lrvoyance, we're all The rage :
| Wonderful experiments, and wonderful cures wer,
talked about. unit ii became obvious, that unless
| the faculty bestired themse Ives, they would be
| drowned ia a sea OF Animal Magnetism!
| To defeat the masnezers they pitched upon
tall unganly youth, who had secretly sworn
geance against of the operators This " Var
mount YOUTH" ycept Luther, was told that if he
would fegn himself subject, and entrap the mag
netzers, he would render an nesimeble service to
the cause OF Ortn00OX science. Lutner ShreWd
| youth, and did not need much encouragement to
execute the plan He had conceived an itching
fondness for Of the black eyed daughters of a
certain Mr. -, who had figured largely as
! magneuZer He sought an Intimacy with the family
and spent his leisure hours IN dosing attendance al
| the shrine OF hisgay love Poor Luther however,
| found that 1t was much easier To understand the
anatomy of the bones, from the o. rontis to the os
| coccygs, than to understand the anatomy of the
heart He unable to make a single inCision
with the scalpel OF love into the mpenetrable heart
OF the young damsel His sleepy eyes and hanging
lip were entirely destitute OF the animal magnetism
which fasclnates the girls; and the old folks were
| equally obdurate against his wishes. Finding thus
| that he could not make magnetic operator, he de-
| termlned to become magnetic subject and, to
be operated on oy his young ove--then to go into
profound sleep, play the somnambulls and to per
nit the young ladies to try all manner of experl-
ments on HIM while asleep. This part he acted out
| with fortlude worthy of lover. They thrust pins
| ito his flesh, made him eat salt cellar full
of salt, and obey all manner of strange commands,
| which he executed with extreme fidelity. Nothing
was too ridiculous for him then to beeve-nohng
| too absurd for him to attempt. care you asleep"
the magnetzers would say, eyes," responded Lu-
Their Now, SAID he magnetzing tormentors, "you
have become fish-yOu are fish" and pointing to
his aims DON'T gu see your fnsl eyes, 'said Luz
| ther what scales see them as plain as day.
| "Getup and walk" said his malicious magnet-
| keepup the delusion, that he considered himself
| fish! Snow | command you,2 said his magneti-
| zers Luther thought 1t necessary to keep up the
ly fell Frustrated upon the floor and wiggle his arms
and feet to the excessive amusement OF all the spec
| tators, and delight of the little children, who CON
sdered Luther the most charming companion they
| had ever found
For some months these scenes were keptup Like
| Magnus Snoro, while the beautiful Ice Witch dane
ed around him, Luther would be outstretched in
| somnambulism "a his little syph-like enchantress
passed around hun. happy to be thus her, and
| 10 hear the unguarded merrment Of those who
deemed him asleep. What were his emotions at
infA Ell sIn naa
| loss TO divine, were II not for the fact that they
were many years ago embodied by "Varmount
Poet" In those happy llnes:-
when Peggy dog her arms mprison,
oh, how wish my place was hs'n
To get pat from hands like her'n!"
At length be determined to secure his end by win
| ming the confidence of the old ones. He had made
| so little progress with his beloved, that she even
laughed at his magnetic exhibitions, and declared
that she could perform better than hat herself He
all Of sudden" became sorelv concerned for his
| eternal salvatlOn-went forward with his damse to
the anxious seat for the prayers of the hOly-came
| back, protessed repentance, and knelt down with
the old gentleman for prayer But all was vain
| magnetiziDg and praying, faith and repentance,
grooming and signing, all did no good to the dscon
ISOLATE youth; with all his piety, somnambulism, and
cairvoyance, he could not CLEAN any hope. He de.
i termlned then 10 have his revenge.
/ At this juncture, DR.. Buchanan, the neuroogist
/ arrived IN town, and began 10 lecture. The mag
| nc,izers at first regarded Dr. B. suspicously, bu
l soon came to the conclusion that animal magnetism
was bnt minor department of neurology, and that
| Dr. b. shoud be the Great Mogul OF the science
Luther determined TO iminortalIZe himself, and ex
tinsuish the new science at single blow, by reia
ting his experience, TO The confusion of all the MAG
nefiZrrs who had assembled at the lecture
This was highly gratifying to his professors. who
entered into the plan with hearty good will 1t was
arranged that the grand dcn1nEnenk should take
place after the d 'ctor's lecture. The plan leaked
| out-eApectston was on tiptoe and crowd Of pro
fessors, lawyers, teachers, ways nc attended To
L IL. l..t
| that profound silence and attention which precedes
/ the bursting of a storm. At lts conclusion Luther
came forward TO serve public subject decla-
| ring that he willing 10 endure any thing for the
satisfaction of the audience illustration OF the
/ science.
The wags who were in the secret helped on the
| cause by nominating DR.. McNaughton, one of
| small fry schoolmasters, to make the neurological
experiments Another OF the professors of our col
| lege was nominated. who being more modest man.
| refused serving for such purpose. DR. NJ, with
countenance all gravity and innocence, advanced To
| the stand, and now commenced the farce between
| the professor and pupil.
TIE learned professor laid aside his cloak and ad-
vanced to the stand remarkng that if entire Igno
rance any qualification for such experiments
| he would BE- proper person to make them Advan-
cling then TO Lu her, full view of the whole audi
ence, with as much gravity and apparent innocence
as il he had been entirely unconscious of the hum
bug-whch was ms fully understood by large part
OF the audience as by hmseIf--he placed his fingers
upon the cheeks OF the young scion OF Escuapius,
IN the most scientific style imaginable. resting his
dexter thumb upon the sinister side OF Luher's ma.
sal protuberance, somewhat in the style in which an
old stager tips his nose when he hears long dull
story he does not care 10 believe. This fine touch
ct wit was lost upon the greatest part of the audi
ence, who were the lookout for some thing more
interesting from the principal performer for Luther
was decidedly the lion OF the evening, and seemed
dee. mined not to be oudone by his professors In
a very short time he began feel an awful sense OF
weakness, and leaned back against the wall in |
half bent attitude, with his tace flushed" oh, (sad
I.ufhn rN sta he Lar
compassionateIy desisted-the ways laDghed-thc |
guls sared-the ladies sympathlzed, and every body
look ed eagerly for the second act
The learned professor with peculiar grace, az |
soon as his nnfor unate pupil bad revived from biz