Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-02-09
ElectrosBiOleSy,

n
With the last week. Professor HALE conclu-
ded for Stanton, his series Of lectures and illus
,rations upon this singular subject. Crowded au-
diences, evening after evening for nearly two
weeks. attested the general interest. And. what
ever may be individual opinions, we feel safe to
say that the skepticism which greeted the intro
duction among MS of the subject, has now, at the
conclusion, given way torthe general admission
that there must be something in it." To those
who have time and inclination, an interesting and
mysterious subject is suggested for further reiiec
ton and research to such as are selisatsiled with
their present knowledge, an opportunity is glvento
vote ''immbug" or ''no humbug;' and certainly
all who attended must at least acknowledge an a
musing and novel evenings entertainment.
The oxperiments--which we have heretofore
described-were striking and wonderful II the
result of collision between the operator and the
subjects" then the former must have credit for
being the most skifal and ingenious of impostors,
possessing still wonderful power of bringing
strangers and honest men Immediately into his dis
honest purposes; ana the latter-taken at random
everywhere-must, by the most remarkable coin
cidence, be, universally without experience, the
most expert ofmankind in acting their parts, and
controlling their countenanco when ''called uney-
pectedly" before large audience and mi~, 1T soon
make fame and fortune in the histriCnc line. Prof
Hale succeeded satisfactorily in some experiments
=
with tadies as his ''sIbjects," at lecture given
exclusively to the ladies; and. we understand. he
also lecturcd at the Institution for the Deaf and
1umb and the Blind, where some of the Deaf
mute and the Blind pupils were PROFESSIONALLY
brought under "the influence But perhaps the
most satisfactory illustrations were adducod by
member of Prof. HALE's class, citizen of Staun-
ton and a gentleman of character and intelligence,
who would scorn to become the Instrument of a
public impOsture- gentleman, by request, on
one or two evenings operated most successfully
with subjects" whom he himself had brought en-
tirely under the influence of his will s.
This subject is of such character that even
if the experiments to Illustrate it fail in thousand
instances, yet cceedndubitably III one, it would
establish the fact that such an influence, whatever
it be, can be excited and exercised over the human
constitution. Nor are we at liberty to doubt the
existence of the fact, simply because it cannot be
at once understood or explained, any more than
we may doubt a thousand things that depend on
the evidence Of our senses, butare yet inexpcable
We were not 50 fortunate as to hear all Of Prof.
HALE's public lectures, or any, of his iustruc-
tons to his Glass; ind therefore cannot speak of his
particular theory on the subject. But the facts
gardng it, have during the last eight years at
tracted much attention, and may be considered as
admitted and demonstrated by the most scientific
men of Europe. Conspicuous among these is the
Baron VoN REIcHENBAcK, of Vienna, distin-
guished German Chemist and Mathematician,
and "the highestliving authority on Meteorology,"
who devoted himself to thorough and scientific
investigation of the subject i'll all its bearings.
Quoting his experiments carefully from clue to
clue, with all classes of ''sabjects." His works,
recently published, give the result Of these expert
ments as established facts, ofthis magnetic infu-
ence on the mental or physical organism Of our
nature, and from which facts he proceeds to educe
theory defining this influence to be another and
distinct "imponderable" Analogous to Electrici-
ty-and which he denominates 'sOdyle." An able
writer in late number of the North British Re-
rico undertakes TO refue this particular theory of
REIcHUNBAcE, bu: speaks thus Of the investga-
ton
at is not easy to read the elaborate and order
" statement of the German naturalist. TO consider
the number and character of his subjects to observe
the precaution takon notice the congruity of the
descriptions given BY thepatients to see the checks
upon cOlncdence and unlntentlonas colluSlon which
occurred at every turn Of the inquiry, without
yielding to the conviction that the phenomena, OBJ
scure and indirect they are, were the effects of
an outward physical cause. That physical cause
or force is not magnetism, for crystal is as pro
ductve of the effects as q magnet, and crystal is
not magnetic 1t is not crystalism ); it isrot heat;
it is not electricity neither is itchemical affinity,
nor gravitation, nor anything peculiar to organiza-
tion It is nothing that we know otherwise than
in and by those new observations.
But this investigator has established the PROPOSE
ton, that the ,chole of nature is reactiee The ner
coos system Of n,an, on breadth of basis which
cannot be shaken" sl
! The subject has also been tested to their salts
faction within the last three years by a number Of
scientific and distinguished men of England, ali
agreeing as to the existence of this mysterious in
fluence, but none OF them protesting to understand
it, And but recently Sir DAVID BREWSTER, a
philosopher of the highest reputation, after wit
Messing some experiments in Electro Biology
from the description, being almost Identical with
the experiments given here by Prof HALE-says,
in letter in Chambers Edinburgh Jouaal,-
''The gentlemen present were the Duke of Ar
gyle, Col. GORE BRowN, Prof. GREGORY and
myself, and believe they were all convinced, as
was. that the phenomena which we witnessed
were real phenomena, and as well established as
any other facts in physical science"
BRrpERY AND CoRRuprIoN-The Richmond
Wing, abiding to "a very remarkable publica-
tom from Mr.. A, J. Marshall, in the Baltimore
pers, says -.-e..ig o Iay 1tt
lit appears that Mr.. Marshall was the hired a.
gent of tho Baltimore and Ohio Company in '46-
~. to obtain from the Legislature of Virginia the
right ofway for that Company to the Ohio River.
The Company promised to give him $4,000 to
procure the desired grant After the work was
accomplished, it refused to pay the fee. Mr.
Marshall brought suit-and was met by plea
that the contract was fraudulent one, which
court OF justice should not enforceo The plea was
sustained-and the laborer has been dpriyed of the
fruits of his toll. .r-t.,1r-.,. e,.l,
''Mr Marshall reconnts quite feclingly the diff
fcultes he encountered in the contamination of
his task. The agency Che says TO achiece these