The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-04
Mind RI aiding = Explanations by DIR.
VIM. A. Hammond, of New York.

Many curious experiments have been
made in regard to the influence of the
mind over the body, and the question
whether the mind of one person can in.
terpret the thoughts of another, under
certain circumstances, has been much
discussed recently by physicians in this
CITY. J. r. Brown, who calls himself a
mind reader, and who claims to be able
to determine the train of thought in an
other, when brought especially in con-
tact, performed some experiments in
this city, and his methods were investi-
gated by many distinguished physicians
and scientists. Mr.. Brown afterward
went TO New Haven and exhibited his
powers there before large audience.
The committee who there Investigated
Mr.. Browns methods reported that
they "were not ready to assert that the
claim of mind reading had been clearly
maintained.
DIR. William a. Hammond and several
other scientists attended several of Mr.
Browns seances, as he called them,
while he was in this city. Mr.. Brown
said that he could not operate through
DIR. Ham mond, but could not give any
reason for such statement. With
other gentlemen Mr.. Brown performed
various experiments. One of the gen.
tlemen hid his door-key under a mat in
the hall. Mr.. Brown, blindfold, took
one of the gentleman's hands in his,
and touched the other, which was held
against his forehead. Mr.. Brown then
charged the gentleman to think of
nothing but the place where the object
was hidden. Mr.. Brown then led the
gentleman about the room and out into
the hall. When they reached the mat,
Mr.. Brown stopped and said Here it
is" Mr.. Brown had also string of
large letters of the alphabet hung across
the room, and upon this he spelled out
word thought of by some gentleman.
This was often done correctly, though
Mr.. Brown was securely blindfolded all
the time.
DIR. Hammond explains the process
by the theory that the person operated
upon, thinking intensely upon the sub
ject, gives some sign, involuntarily,
perhaps, when the place is reached, or
the object attained that is being sought.
Mr.. Brown, by long practice, probably
perceives an indication that another
might not notice. DIR. Hammond said
that after little practice he had been
able to perform some of Mr.. Browns
experiments with complete success. In
one experiment DIR. Hammond wrote
down list of names, and told person
to think of one of them. He then
placed his fingers upon the persons
wrist, and said, "Now [ will tell you
the name of the person you are think
ing Of Read over the list, and wheI
You reach the right name / shall know
by your pulse which it is" The person
then began and read down the list, ano
each time when the name thought Of
was reached, by some means it would
be plainly indicated, to the great aston.
ishment Of the person experimental
upon. "The whole is explained to me,
added DIR. Hammond, "by the influence
of the mind over the body. The major
ity OF persons thinking steadily upon
one subject do not fail to give evidence
when that subject is reached which that
person has been expecting. The reason
why Mr.. Brown could not operate upon
me was, ] would not allow myself to
give the slightest indication that would
enable him to detect my thoughts.
found this very difficult thing to do,
and, after l had tried it, L did not Won
der that many were unable to exercise
this control. l think that, when this
theoryof external indication of a thought
suddenly touched upon is followed up
further, it will explain the whole OF
Mr.. Browns mind-reading.-Ne,O Yorh
Tribune.