Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-09-15
to the floor Many other like phenom-

Dedstead was insulated by placing the
posts upon glass. The effect was all
that could be desired. Although the
raps continued to follow her all day
from room to room, and to her cham
Der at night, yet so soon as she was
fairly in bed, everything of the kind
ceased And no more raps occurred
at night after she had retired, so long
as the bed was kept insulated. The
table at which Mary took her meals,
was nearly always agitated when she
sat down to eat, and loud raps were
heard. The table and her chair were
insulated and there were no more move
ments or raps.
We will not enter further into the
details Of this case. Sufficient has al
ready been presented to show that
these manifestations were induced by
some power possessed by the girl in
its operation, more nearly resembling
electricity, than any other agent with
which we are acquainted. 1t would be
but reasonable 70 suppose that the elec
tricity generated BY the human system
would differ in some respects from that
electrical machine. In examining
such instances as these. it must be adj
mitted that the actions performed are
identical with the marvellous manifcs-
tations Of modern spiritualism. This
being granted it only remains to notice
some points of resemblance between
''phy steal manifestations" and elcctri-
cal action. Electrical discharges are
accompanied with noises. as their coun-
ter part we have ''raps' and noises"
ofspiritualism. Electrical substances.
Thus physical mediums" have the
power of attracting and repelling var
Ious articles, rs chairs. tables. dishes.
&c. Electricity is interrupted in it, ac-
ton by nonconducting substances. and
III like manner we have seen that this
other power is stayed, and the "rap,"
AMI other marvellous manifestations
cease. Hence it would seem 10 be ap-
parent that the two forces are for all
practical purposes identical. This
then will deprive spiritualisIn Of its
ply steal manifestations. There re-
main the trance and "clairvoyant'
states to be investigated. These We
assert 70 be nearly allied 10 the n.es-
merlc state, and like that to be accent
cd ior by the action of natural agen
cies. Most persons have witnessed
the phenomena of the mesmeric state
Professors of the art have travelled
through the country exhibiting their
power 10 the wondering public, their
mesmeric power over subjects chosen
from their audience. Some persons.
..ss tei! their auulruccs. are not suS-
ceptable To this influence. Aad upon
trial this is found 10 be true. For, ot
those selected there will often be found
those who are not in the least ali ctctl
by their procedures. These same per
formers also state to their subject,
that they must he perfectly passive,
willing - come under the influence
Some will be slightly influenced, Others
viii he under the complete contro! oi
the operator.
Now what do we find 10 be the con.
ditions in regard TO entering the trance
state. Very similar To the preceding.
Only certain persons are susceptible
OF the influence. ana in order for these
TO receive it they must be perfectly
passive, wishing to receive ii. Ii !, al
50 found that the same persons who
are most susceptible 10 mesmeric in
fiuence are also the most easily en-
tranced, the general appearance OF the
persons in the two states of iuesmer-
ism and trance are much the same. All
the material difference between the two
consists in this, that the trance state
is the more advanced and complete OF
the two. 1t is the mind of one person
under the influence OF some other mind.
That it is the influence OF one man up
on another in the case of mesmcrism is
not questioned by any one. Let that
same influence be deepened and We
have the trance state, and one step
further on gives the clairvoyans state.
The mesmerized person believes any
thing that the mesmerizer tells him.
He has no power OF prepcrception, he
believes what he is told. He uses his
sense of hearing to receive communicl-
tiops from him who influences him. In
this instance we see that he who infiu-
ences is conscious of the act, and he
who is influenced still exercise the sense
OF hearing. Advance step farther
and the trance state presents the en-
tranced person as no longer receiving
his communications by the sense OF
hearing, but his mind is in such close
intercourse with some other mind that
the thoughts pass from one mind TO
the other as imperceptibly as though
An electric telegraph wire connecting
the two brains in the same way that the
telegraph machines are connected.
And further, this influence may be so
subtle that the mind giving it may be
unaware of it and the mind receiving
it know not whence it came. and hence
sincerely believe it to be the influence
of a spirit, in want Of . better explana-
ton of the phenomenon. The clair
vOoant state is induced in like man.
ner. The clairvOyant is enabled to
receive influences from other minds
without their consciousness Of the fact.
There are numberless illustrations Of
this fact. Clairvoyant physicians, SO
called. have been through the country.
A sick person consulting them has in
his mind tie suffering that he has en-
dured, and his present symptoms. The
clairvoyant receives this influence and
can tell the patient his symptoms just
as well as he himself can tell theu.
This as matter of course creates O
degree of surprise in the patient who
10 unaware Of the means by which the