Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-12
TCOMMuNICATED.I
Rnhorf HeIler,n Hrcnnh.Hiaht MI,

Robert Heller's Second sight Ny stery.
EDTToR PREss-Dedr Sir: Having several
times witnessed the performance of Mr. Hell
let's miscslled Second Sight mystery, and
having also read in the newspapers num-
Der of attempted exposures of the same, none
ofwhich believe to be right, permit me to
offer the following:
Mr.. Heller's 'Second Sight" is nothing
more or less than Mesmerism-a science dis
covered and introduced by Nesmer some
thing like a century ago, but, even at the
present day, very imperfectly understood.
In defense Of my position offer the follow
ing arguments: l. That it is absolutely
necessary for Mr.. Heller 10 have a "suhiect,h
or one particular person to help him in the
performance of his feat, which, if il were a
simple trick, or ventriloquism-as some sup.
pose-would not be necessary. 2. That if
it was any Second Sight" of the boys, he
would be able to see and describe any thing
independently Of Mr.. Heller which he him
self admits can not be done. True, the boy
does not present any Of the appearances of a
person in the Mesmeric sleep, as it is termed,
nor is IT necessary that be should do so, as
the mind of person who has once been Mes
meIized by another still remains under the
control Of the MesmeriEer, and to such an
extent can this be carried, that the mind of
the subject E , the boy-beeomes in time
merely reflection of the mind of the oper.
ator-t. e, Mr.. Heller; hence, all that is seen
by MIR. Heller is Immediately impressed upon
the mind of the boy, and that without speak
ing or making any signal to him whatever.
The idea that there is any supernatural
agency in the affair, is simply ridiculous.
Ghosts and hobgoblins are not so plentiful
as they were hundred years ago, thanks to
the school master, or do the denizens of an
other world come to exhibit their "feats" at
the rate of twenty-five cents per head, upon
the boards Of one-h horse theaters. NV prop
ositions to Mr.Heller are-that is, if he wishes
to disprove my theory, and of course he
does, being to his interest to do so-that he
allow stranger, some one selected from
the audience, to take the place of the boy,
"lOr one night only" or that he allow one
of his audience to ask the boy questions
concerning an article which he himself has
not seen, or can not see, but which if the
boy is gifted with second sight" he (the
| boy) of course can see, if not perhaps Mr.
Beller's assistant, "the d." or whom.
soever else he may be, will come forward
and help him out of the dilemma. In conclu-
sion, would remark, that this wonderful
mystery, together with many Others not
dreamed of in Mr.. Heller's philosophy, have
been performed long before Second sight
had an existence, and there are parties mo-
residing in this city, Who, to the writers
own personal. knowledge, have accomplished
all that he claims to, and what is more, can
do it again. That Mr.. Heller is a skilfu
Mesmerist, do not doubt, but when he at
tempts to deceive the public, and endeavor.
to deny the agency by which he accom-
plisbes his mystery, then an exposure be
comes not only good, but absolutely neces
sary. A DISCIPLE OE MESMER.