Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-05-01
(From the Germam.)
ANTHONY NIESMER.
A TALE OF LOVE AND SCIENCE.

and imaginative turn OF thOught, anu WAS ia
defatigable in his application to study. AT
very early age, he obtained the degree OF Doc
tor, and in his inaugural thesis he introduced
the hypothesis of fluid which he first termed
electric and subsequently denominated naagne
tic. In short time the young doctor began tt
attract public attention in Vienna, when many
regarded him as an inspired physician, learned
ilzuuainato-in short, he became all enthusias
tic magnetizer, and the most miraculous cures
were attributed to him. The faculty Of Wen
ma, annoyed at the praises bestowed on Mes.
mer's alleged skill, began to manifest their dis
approval of him, by declaring him to be quack
and disgrace to the medical profession. AT
ter time, Mesmer lost the popularity he had
so rapidly gained in Vienna; he was no longer
regarded as irregular University Doctor, but
as an empirc orr madman. This was only a
few months prior to his triumphal visit to Pa
ris, where the establishment of the Mesnerian
School speedily raised him from poverty to
wealth; where he was revered like an ancient
oracle, and worshipped as an almost divine be-
nefactor of the human race.
Meanwhile, the opposition which Mesmer
encountered during the latter months of his
abode in Vienna, served only to confirm the
Young enthusiasts faith in his own theories,
and an incident which occurred on the Prater,
in the presence of persons, had the effect Of
restoring some portion of his lost popularity
Mesmer was walking beneath the shaday trees
of the promenade, apparently forgetting for
while the hallucinations which occupied his
hours of study and solitude. His impatience
was evident. He stamped his foot on the
ground angrily, then stopped short, and cast q
seacrhing among the troops Of promenaders
He had all the air of lover suffering under
expectation, and torturedsby the
absence of mistress at the time and place Of
rendezvous. And. Mesmer waa lover; he was
deeply enamored of lady-a lady of rank
one to whom he had never spoken, but whom
he saw every day, either in the outrageous
avenues of the Prater, or on the grassy bank of
the Danube. He now looked for her in vain.
Mesmer was vending his way homeward, in
the moody feeling naturally created by this dis
appointment; when suddenly turning through
one of the thick cluster of trees which adorn
the Prater, he beheld a young female seated on
the grass She was very pretty, but pale, and
evidently laboring under the languor conse-
quent on protracted illness. Her dress, though
neat and becoming, betokened poverty. Mes
mer, struck with her appearance, stopped and
fixed his eyes earnestly upon her. The young
lady modestly cast hers down, but continued
to sit montonless as statue. A sudden
though flashed though the mind of Mesmer,
the genius of occult science moved him with
inspiration, and he resolved to mount the tripod
of the oracle. s...,. 7.. u r..e,s.s.
Advancing towards the young female and
gently taking her hand, he said-"You seem to
be i'll, Frauleins" q an" "she replied, in faint
tone of voices am doctor" resu1zed Mes
mer, sand if you are disposed to follow my d.
rections, think might assist your recovery;
whilst you, in your turn, may render me very
great service"
aHoww inquired the young woman, with an
expression of astonishment. sMerely by re-
naming seated where you are, and looking
steadfastly in my face. The girl timidly raised
her eyes, and fixed them on the countenance Of
Mesmer, who stood gazing at her with aslook
which seemed to absorb her inmost feelings.
He then passed his hands repeatedly over the
forehead, her face, and her arms, first with a
gentle, undulating motion, and afterwards
with a rapid jerking movement. The eyes
Of the patient closed and opened again several
times. as struggling against the subduing force
Of the fascination ~ She seemed to suffer from
the influence Of mental anguish, for she sighed
deeply, and the tears rolled down her cheeks.
But this sadness was merely transient; bright |.
smile presently lighted up her features, her
head fell back and she sank into gentle slum-
mber. It was magnetic sleep!-the sleep Of
s'D so onlilaali y ni as' gf .ss + 3y III.
> But this was not enough for Mesmer, to
whom magnetism was q valuable phenomenon
only Is far as 4 tended 70 excite and produce
u the magnetized subjects other phenomena,
md still greater prodiges--,yiizs clarvoyance
,pitual vision and ecstasy, t,ssa ii fase ~
s9sWhat ats yonathinking Off iaquired Mes