The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-18
From the Chicago Tribune, August 12th.l
Mind ReaGins-First Public Perform.
ance of MIR. Brown, the Iowa Phe.


Mind ReaGing-First Public Perform
ance of MIR. Brown, the Iowa Phe-
nomenon.
The wonders performed by the young
Iowan, Brown, since his arrival in Chicago,
besides the natural pleasure which their APP
parenty almost supernatural qualities pro-
duce, will prove an interesting study for
our psychologists, be their peculiar ten
dency either materialistic or spirtualistc
Mr.. Brown, rs indicated by his mentor
in his address to the audience at the Union
Park Congregational church last night,
wisely steers clear Of both these parties,
and allows those who see him perform to
credit his ability to any agency they have
a mind to, thus showing an imparti-
atty which does him credit, and adds to the
mystery which lends so peculiar an interest
to his performance. After the glowing ac-
counts which the press unanimously gave
of Mr.. Browns success as a mind-reader, it
is not surprising that last night the church
before mentioned should contain Il very fair
audience to see his first public exhibition in
this city. After the playing of selection
from Gounod's ''TaGst" by the organist Of
the church. which was well worth listening
to. Nr. Kelly, the mentor of the young
mind-rcadcr, was introduced to the audi
cncc.
He assured them that the young man lie
was about to introduce to their notice was
neither nccrOmancer nor spritulli>t, but
was gifted with certain peculiar powers
which lie would exhibit to the audience. AS
Il boy, his proitgf vas looked upon as puny
fellow, and the discovery of his powers was
made accidentally some eight years since,
when the casual touching Of his forehead by
a playfcllow caused sparks to emit thercfiom
and sensations to appear which first led him
to feel that he was able to learn the
thoughts which lie in another brain. He
touched upon electricity, magnetism, the
odyllic force, mesmerism, and other
hidden powers, and left the audience
to decide of what nature the power of
the performer would seem most likely to
prove. He said that the powers Of MIR.
Brown were like that Of the magnet which
he held in his hand, in that they were
| stronger in cold weather and increased III
strength the more they were exercised. AT
| ter cautioning persons intending to ask
questions or otherwise test the powers OF
| Mr.. Brown that persons whose left arm was
| broken or who were partially intoxicated
| could not have their minds read, MIR. Kelly
called upon the audience to form commit
| tee to oversee the various tests. This was
soon done. and Mr.. Brown was introduced
| to the audience.
The first test was that of finding an article
| hid outside Of the room. A gentleman
| known to the committee announced that he
had secreted IN article, and he was immedi-
| ately introduced to Mr.. Brown. The latter
| took his left hand in his own and placed his
| right hand on the gentlenan's forehead, let
| ting it rest there for few moments then he
| took the gentleman's right hand and held it
| to his own forehead. Pausing but for mo-
ment, he shot rapidly with the tester toward
| the back door of the church. After few
| moments suspense the audience were
| pleased to see the gentleman return, his
| face radiant with smiles, and twirlipg a
suall locket in his hand. This he had
| hid in the basement of the church, and
| to it the blindfolded Brown led him quite
as straight and perhaps little faster than
| he could have wished to the hidden
object. Then he led gentleman to the tip
of Il chandelier Of which he was thinking,
| found silver quarter hid under q table,
| discovered knife in gentleman's hat, a
small piece Of paper under a pin-cushion,
and wound up the first series of tests by
pulling a Watch-kcy out of the testers
| mouth. All of the tests, with one exception,
were successful, and that partially so; and
rs the young fellow succeeded in winning
each of the games of hide-and-seek, the au-
dience greeted him with applause. During
| the evening many gentlemen asked Mr..
Kelly questions regarding the powers of
the performer, which were all answered
very readily and in manner which
| fully satisfied the audience. After a
rest, during which Mr.. Kelly interested
| the audience with short dissertation, Mr..
Brown spelled out, upon an alphabet placed
against the wall; the names of places in the
| minds of two gentlemen, one of the trials,
however, being rather a failure, but quite
set off by his spelling out the outandish
word Barambole." town in Barambole.
The final triumph of the young mind-reader
| was the locating of L pain in mans head,
| which he did to Il nicely, indicating the
exact spot where the trouble lay. During
the meeting the audience expressed wish
! to have the performance repeated, and in
accession to the desire the same feats will be
performed in the same place Thursday eve
ming next, when Mr.. Kelly will further en-
tighten the audience upon the nature OF his
protfge's powers.