The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-09-29
On. q u. vead.s,-A Though. xaeAias


On the third Of May last, young man o
about % years stepped into the Pidindeale'
Job Office, and asked for work. he wa,
answered that no situation was then open
but nothing dauntcd he ventured TO tell his
story. lie said that he had just left a Sha'
ker settlement in the southern part OF this
State, where he had resided fer some years
This was evident from his dress, which wal
in the peculiar style Of that sect. TIC hsG
been the school teacher Of the settlement
but from some cause he left them. Wepre'
sumc his progressive and novel views did moi
correspond with the strict ideas OF his breth'
rcn. He told his story in such an interest
ing manner. that Mr.. Spear foreman OF ous
Job O.tiee,l felt quite an interest in him, I'm
media,ely gave him employment, and after.
wards found him TO be very useful and IN.
dustrious printer.
He had been in the Office scarcely week
before he gave unmistakable evidences OF u
strong mind. and OF most undoubted talent.
He occupi ali his leisure time in studying
and in solving difficult problems in mathe.
MATES. He evinccd a wonderful memory
and logical powers that Indicated not on.,
natural but cultivated ability. He once made
the remark that he could describe person:
who were at a distance, and whom he hat
never seen. He was put TO the test, and
proved most successfully that he was indeed
gifted with such powers, He described
most accurately lady and child who were
in New York. He told what had been the
personal appearance of persons who were
dead, and described remote localities with as
much precision as if they were spread out
before his eyes This power he did not as
cribe TO spiritualism or any supernatural
cause, but pronounced i the result Of certain
laws of nature which are none the less true
for being but slightly understood.
He stated that he could manufacture ma
chine BY which be could bring about ths
same result; To this he was encouraged
and assisted. For three years he had been
theorising on the subject, and now, in few
days he has produced rather rough wood
en- box about one foot square, containing
several cog-aheels and springs and handle
for turning. Several small magnetic batter
les were also attached to it. The entire
instrument cost about $40. We shall not
give minute description OF It's workings, as
We wish to do no injustice to its inventor,
Mr.. James b. McAlster. Suffice it TO say
that the .Mcntal Telegraph" performed
wonders. and astonished the few who saw
It's operations more than any Of the spiTltu-
al phenomena which have been esteemed so
singular He exhibited it to a number OF
persons in Ohio City and on this side, and it
was uniformly and wonderfully success
tui.
Ate. working a; the press in our Office for
sbou; eigh: weeks, il was proposed TO HIM
TO 20 TO Oherlin College, for the purpose OF
psrfeetlng himself in certain branches OF
study. This was accepted by him with en-
;husiasca, and he is now attending that IN
sti,ution, through the iberality Of Mr.. Bar
Der of Ohio City, and Messrs. Spear and
pennison, Of this Office. He viii remain
there year Or more, and then will doubt
less apply his increased knowledge to the
improvement OF his wonderful Mental TEL
egrapa. - Cleveland P.Gi1ded!er.