, 1873-08-09

THE DISADVANTAGE OF BROWN. 4
Wo lave already alluded In these columns to tho |
yoryremarhabloa md decidedly abnormal featsper~
formed by tho young gontloman of tho name of
Brown, who, aftcr placing the hand Of porson
upon his head, ia onab1od to find out what is
going on in the other persona heaa The only !
explanation which Mr.. Brown is nblo to give OF |
this peculiar poweris that, us BOON us tho second
porson's hand touches hin head, ho soos light
dancing boforo Ills oycs, which guldes him to the
object or locality Of which tho porson is think
ing, 90 tle star guided tho shepherds. OF tho
fact of Ills consoiousness or power OF
seeing what poreon ia thinking Of, thero
Ia no doubt. It las boon repeatedly tested
by people who had no faith in his
alleged power, aud was tcstod by various skeptica
in TIE TRIBUNE Office With entiro auccesB to the
Psychologist, clairvoyant, soor, wizard, or what
ofor narno may DO moat doar.
Tho power which Mr.. Brown Ia enabled to OK
erciao docs not differ from TINT of many other
persons, except In the fact that ho is not put
under tho influence Of " mosmeriBm, and docs
not 60 into franco, hut ia IN Lis normal, wako-
fu1 condition whom ho exercises it. Tho fact Of
It's possession being acknowledged, the question
immediately nrlaos why 1t iB not utilized and
made to accomplish somo usofnl purpose.
Mr.. Brown, by virtue Of his wonderful
gift, should bo tho most successful
of detectives. all that 1t would be necessary for
him to do would bo to place tho thiofs hand
against Ills head and ho would at onco 500 tho
stolen property in Its place Of concealment. He
would DO tho terror OF fences," pawnbrokora.
old junls-doalors, end thioyos' go-botwoenR. Tic
utmost cunning of burglnr or pickpocket would
bo OF no avail against tho lights which danco be-
foso Browns oyos, illuminating the secret placoa.
Suppose, for instance, that Brown Ind boon on
tho police force whom Lizzie Moore WAS robbed OF
tho only iowols remaining to llor. sl,o would not
have been compelled to go to Capt. Hickey and
place tho thrao hundred dollars under his
pillow, and mako numerous trips to md
fro, before sAe could rocovor them.
Brown would have placed somebody's
hand upon lis head, and presto, little twinkling
ntar would havo led him to tho spot whore tho
diamonds wero hidden, and thus Hickey might
hnvo been saved hiH star, anl the woman would
lave got her property without any difficulty or
oxponpo. No limit can bo plnccd upon the eScr-
else Of this power. Suppose that Brown had Ind
tho loan Of Oakoa Amos' hand for fow minutes,
what disclosures ho might havo malo Suppono,
in addition, lo had had the hands Of tho rociri-
onts of tho Credit Mobllior dividends. How
| quickly he would havo discovered tho p1acoa
whore thoy lid tho most good.
1t Ia oasy to 300, howovor, that 1t would not bo
vol for ovory ono to posneBB this marvellous
power. There is Cause for sincoro congratula-
ton that wo arc not oil Browns, and do not pos
aess tho power Of lnying on Of hands. We will
asHumo that Mrs. Smith is trustful, confiling
| woman, who believes that Smith ia n roso Of
| honesty md pink Of perfection. Havlng no
| joulouaios, sho passos her days in comfort and
her nights in peace. Her only sadnoss is in tho
| reflection that Smith is oyorworling himself
| and when, on Saturdays, ho does not turn up ut
dinner-timo, aho sighs rs sho tlinka Of him toll
ing In tho oiflco wearing ont his youthful enor-
GIGS aud growing promaturoly gray. md aho nits
| up for him and emo0ths his noble brow when ho
returns, and peala with him to apare him.
aolf. And tho noble Smith acknowledges
that ho is tired, "but my doar, cannot shirk my
work. It is only temporary furry, and some
OF tho othora nro or on vacation, which brings
oxtra work. you know" And thon Smith turns
over md Is soon snoring. and foolish Mira. Smith
thinks 1t a]l ovor, and wonders why Hho was
foroorlainol to entail such burden OF labor on
her consort aud if Bho cannot, unbokl,owr to
him, manage to do something lorso!f to ligl.ton
tho load before he broala down under 1t. But
suppose TINT Mrs. Smith possessed Browns
power, and suppose uomo night when Smith has
to labor so lato, or is obliged to 60 to tho lodge
or has IN appointment to moet a man on buBl'
ness, gho should happen to tako Smiths hand
in hor own littlo whito fingers, and In Z
lit Of Abstraction place it agninst hol
head what scenes tho dancing, twink
ling llgltn would show hori W1at foutlyt
aupperH, What aagons Of boor, what aconoH a
tho 1odgo-dear mo! How bho would pity him
struggling ovor tho groen cloth against the Bpot
tod monster Of tho junglo! How sho wouls
wonder at tho txod determination Of Buitll not t,
go homo until morning! How nllo would yainl
raCo agatnnt tint other woman, and aol.o to 20
ut her only oncol What conglomoration O
auction-pitch, Adlloa, Ruinart champagne, GU
chro docks, embroidered handkerolaiofa, gam
paatios, darcaa, hack-lrlvcrs, DIuo Danubou
aud other clements which onter into tho detail
Of Smiths saturlay-nglt labors, would fl
punt hor wondering vision and sufficiently nc
count for Smiths premature gray lairn
Mrs. Smith, bolng presumably woman Q
spirit whom occasion warranta. ono can faintl