The New York herald., 1874-07-09
ASMODEUS IN NEW YORK.

Diabolism mt the Sturtevant House -
Browns Brains and what They
Evosve-Witchcraft Of the Nineteenth
Century.
In the large dining room or the Sturtevant
House there assembled last evening large CON-
pany OF scientific gentlemen, journalists and others
10 witness some wOnarous psychic demonstrations
OF a Young man Of the name Of Brown. The
representative Of the HERALD was introduced
10 this modern phenomenon before the public
exhibition and the following facts were CLEANED
as 10 the antecedents Of the modern Asmodeus.
He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, of poor, but
honest parents who gave him common school
education, of which he made good use. AT TWO
years Of age this juvenile infant commenced TO
see things'-that is, he could tell what people
were thinking OF him. which, TO say the
least, must have been embarrassing. "But,''
said he in his ndtm way, cit was
lust like steam-I didn't know what use to make
OF it, 1t appears, however, that after studying
in the rural schools, attending the usual number
OF Methodist revival meetings and seeing some OF
the phenomena OF modern Splrituallsm he became
convinced that his faculty If not OF The old Scot
tsh ''second-sght type, was, at least, capable OF
awakening the rural press to an apprecia-
tion OF Browns brains, and so he started
out to instruct, delight and elevate the
rural press seized upon him he was in demand at
fairs and local merry aklngs, and wnen the
sages OF the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor,
declared, alter much consultation, that ''they
could make nothing OF himn-a dubious diploma,
IL must be confessed to send call0w Mr.. Brown out
into the world witn-ne came East, 10 newilder
the scientists, who Will probably send him back
again to Ann Arbor with the Endorsement that
they also can make nothing OF him. Young Brown
is an innocent-lOoKng young fellow OF twenty
two years or age, ouilt IKE olher young
men, with legs and arms and head" as Mr..
Fowler remarked with an eradition and subtle
humor which was appreciated by the audience
iast evening. In general way he wanted 10
show that he possessed, besides his ordinary hu-
man qualities. the instinct OF retriever dog;
that he can find things wnen they are hidden and
20 right to the spot, be 1t swamp, MOTEL parlor or
coal cellar, and pluck from strange recesses
thinks hard enough, and go through any amount
put a foreign clairvoyant to the blush.
Assembled IN the dining room, the guests-waiting
ior the arrival o. the operator-had an opp0rtunlty
mirror which adorned the south wall These let
ters, IN black w,re printed on green pasteboard,
and IN size sufciently large tor all the audience to
distinctly see them. The young man made brief
speech in which he sad she invited investigation
he had nothing to concealn and generally repeated
him." He then blindIolded himself, the back
OF his head being adorned with first
man then hid a lead pencil ilady's slze) IN the
second parlor OF the hotel: Brown seized his
dragged the man who had hidden the pencil out OF
tue room in a dramatic manner, and came back
in lew seconds with the pencil held triumph
antly alon lAppausel The SECOND EXPERIMENT
OF the room and gentleman hllariously
hid an object in some Otner genteman's coat
collar. Young Brown returned with his keep
ers selected from the audtence) and went ior
that coat collar, and dragged the object forth.
Great applause.) Next eXperimeat-Gentleman
in white coat was called up and asked to think OF
the name OF some friend be did so. Brown snined
his hands few moments, then started on IN hot
chase. Hot cold over chairs and tables-a splen-
did hurde-taklng negro waiter IN the back.
ground handsomely, finally coming back to the
starting point with scent cold. Time, lm l9s.
Failure. 1t was then announced that the gentle
man in white coat had been thinking or another
gentleman in California Sensation. All bets off,
The next person experfmen ted on was success.
He was taken immediately to the person thought
OF. Connection established and lines working well
once more.
The mental strain on Brown was now so great
that rest was desirable. and some good -natured
granny in the audience suggested that bumptious
phrenoOgist should. feel his head, which ne dlu
and made very good speech.
He epitomZed as follows:-"YOung man weighs
$50 pounds fright to an ounce height bve eet ten
wrong one-quarter OF an inch), has ambition for
promotion, no marked faith or prophetic tendency,
free in The use OF his means, benevolent and anna
bic, strong in social attachments, loying-t"AhPl
and vital powers" After various other ex
periments were tried, IN all OF which
proposed and hailed with acclamatlon. 1t was
that a representative OF the Tribune should com
munlcate an original thought to representative
guess It, Great confusion in the dining roOm.)
The Tribune man stood up by the HERALD man
and, reversing The order OF things the 7Ttbnn,
thought, while the mind OF the HERALD was qui
escent. lew passes by young Brown. The Op
orator led the parties over to another journalist
The Tribune cried 'CorrectV"