Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-07-01
,nce of interest. "Well, I don't mind taking

Admirably we'll. Who are the owners oi
the place?"
"Some good people named Perry. Unless
they have worthy successors, shall regret
their leaving the neighborhood. Their daugh'
ter's husband, who is a mechanic, has had an
offer of permanent business in Chester, where
he has relatives, and the old people, not
willing to be separated from their only child,
have decided to 60 with them, provided they
can dispose of their place here.'
At the appointed hour the horses were
brought to the door, and DR.. Curtis and his
guest started on their expedition. On the
road the conversation turned upon the events
of the previous. evening.
"Your experiments were most Interesting,
professor" said the doctor. "To tell you the
truth, I was agreeably surprised, for felt
little skeptical when you commenced"
"Had you never seen the magnetic influence
exercised before?" asked the professor.
"Not successfully. I went once to an ex-
hibition of the sort, but it proved an entire
failure, and I came away thoroughly disgust
ed. presume the operator was an impostor,
or else very unskillful."
"Not necessarily" rejoined the professor.
"You may have seen him at an unfavorable
time; his physical condition might not have
been in a suitable state for the proper exercise
of his powers. Itrequires system in perfect
order to enable magnetizer thoroughly to
perform his duties; unsteady nerves, or bodily
weakness of any sort render him unfit for
them. Or, his subject may have been pc.
culiarly difficult one. You remarked how
much more trouble had yesterday evening
with my first subject than with my second"
II certainly did but thought there might
have been greater degree of resistance in
the one case than in the other. My young
friend appeared thoroughly determined not to
yield to your influence"
"True; but his determination was overcome,
and having once passed into the somnolent
state, it could avail him no longer 1t de-
pends greatly upon persons condition. Now
Miss Vaughan was most favorable subject
1 should be greatly pleased to have an oppor-
tuuity of trying my power upon her again; I
think you would be surprised to find to what
an extent could carry it."
"She did, indeed, seem to be completely at
your mercy" said the doctor. "What aston
ished me most was the ease with which she
read your thoughts"
"Does not that prove the complete under
standing which exists between the mind of the
mesmerizer and his subject?"
"What you call the rapport between them"
Exactly. The science of mesmerism has
been to me the object of profound study, and
cannot sufficiently admire the mysterious
workings of the human mind developed by
it's results. In the examination ofthese things,
we are led into world full of wonder and
charm, and revelation is afforded US of a
system whose laws are so perfect, and whose
harmony so beautiful, as to excite our utmost
reverence and ave."
"You speak with enthusiasm said the
doctor.
"And I feel as speak. I regret that this
subject is one of which the world is so gener-
ally ignorant, and which, still worse, it so
generally turns into ridicule."
"There has been so much imposition prac-
ticed, that it is no wonder people are often
inclined to be skeptical."
"But it is not fair that the dishonesty of
charlatans and impostors should be visited
upon those who make fair and true exposi-
tion of the truths they illustrate. Now tell
me sincerely, my friend, was there anything
savoring of humbug or deception in the ex.
periments you witnessed last night?"
"There certainly was not, to my mind.
Everything was honest and above-board."
"You might doubt my sincerity if you
pleased, but you would not doubt that Of a
refined and pure.minded young lady, with
whom you have long been intimately &C.
quainted."
Certainly not; neither, for the matter of
that, would I question yours, assure you. l
quite agree with you in condemning those
persons who disbelieve everything that they
cannot explain"
"There are some truths which cannot be
explained. We must simply accept them as
they are.''
"Do you believe in clairroyance professor ?"
"Not in what is generally signi6ed by the
term; but, to certain extent, l do. 1t cam
not be denied that the mind, in the highly
exalted state produced by the suspension Of
certain powers, and the exercise of certain
other powers, working mysteriously by an
agency beyond our comprehension, yet seen
and felt in its results, is capable of a discern
ment which in its ordinary condition it can
not attain to. How far this reaches, none
can positively ascertain. There is doubtless
much scope for deception in trials such as
these"
"That is why object to them," said the
doctor. "Besides the practical wickedness of
such receptions, think it is lamentable to
witness the injurious effect produced by them
on credulous minds. We were speaking
awhile ago OF Elrgllla Vaughan. do you
know, I believe she could be easily imposed
on in that way?"
"Miss Vaughan's organization is a pecu-
liarly sensitive one" rejoined the professor,
"and her nervous systemis very highly strung.
She has, however, a very deep and reflective
mind"
''She is an odd GIRL" said the doctor, blunt
ly. II should be sorry to see either of my