The North-Carolina standard., 1847-08-25
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wednesday, 4 August %, fs47.
- human magnetism. !. 4

!. Human Magnetism.
5 On Saturday evening last. De Benjamin B.
Williams ompleted course Of lectures and de-
nonslra.ions in this City, uponahe subject OF Hu'
we had ,he pleasure n Of attending several Of the
exhibitions, and were amused as well as surprised
at the experiments On Saturday night demon
STATIONS were made before large audience, with
five magetizeG boys, who, under the Influence
which seemed TO have been put upon them, danced,
were translated TO Mexico and fought the enemy,
saw Gen. Taylor wounded, and described him,
were dumb, blind, and speech lessl and not only
this, bulthe Magnetizer seemed TO pin them 70 the
floor at his WILL to deprive them Of all power Of
motion, and then to restore motion and energy ;
and, in word, to play upon their facuties to use
his owrl language, Just as the IS lady touches the
harp or the pinno" He also produced Estate ot
insensibiiity in the right arm and side Of one of
the boys, and thea restored him instantly Ishis
fact was tested by several gentlemen present. u
q But how we may be asked was this magnetic
state produced appeared TO be done in this
way: The! person to be magnetized was plnced,
for instance, on d bench and told to compose his
mind tand fix It on what was about to be performed
A piece Of silver money was given TO him, which
he held ia his hand about twelve inches from his
eyes, under instructions to keep his eyes constantly
upon il, and when he felt like it, TO drop into a
natural Sleep When asleep, which generally
occurred about twenty minutes after taking the
seat the subject was lifted up and aroused and
then, with his eyes open, and apparently with all
his sensesdfully about him, the piece OF money
was placed before his eyes by the Magneiizer, and
he was told to follow. This he did, his body
whirling and turning after the money; after
which the Manetizer fixed his hands upon his
head, down by his side, or his gaze upon the
candle or any other object just he thought proper
TO do, The subject remaining as first placed, until
relieved by the word Of the Magnetizer. Conf
Gence, FaiH, and the Doctrine Of Impression,
seem to be the main principles of this Science
that is confidence in the Magnetizer, and impress
ion on the mind Of the subject that he cannot resist
For instance several of the boys were told to kick
a cap, or to strike the Magnetizer, which they
and could not do their arms or feet
being arrested before reachingthe object or glanc
ing over or around it. ~
Dr. Williams gave course Of private lectures
to class Of gentlemen Of high respectabifity in
this City, most of whom have assured US of-Meir
entire confidence In the principles of the Science
and who express the opinion that it is destined to
produce the most astonishing as well as the most
beneficial results. Without expressing any opin-
ion Of our own, one way or another, we may nev-
ertheless add, that while number of our citizens
believe in the truth Of this Science, and consider
il as important as il is striking and wonderful
others, of equal intelligence look upon as " all
in my eye mas a humbug ofthe first magnitude
At any rate, there seems to be mystery about il,
which it would be difficult, perhaps to explain