The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-20
What is Animal Magnetism?

Should II once your heaven enSnrOuu.
Alz the Year Round.
What is Animal Magnetism?
had ct one time fine flock of white
turkeys, which were always shy, though
much petted by the family because OF
their great beauty. There was covered
gallery between the DINING room and the
kitchen, with broad folding-doors at each
end, in which we were in the habit of
sitting to read, sew, as women will, and
where WAS cradle for the baby. Our
turkeys would sometimes stalk rapidly
through this gallery as a sort of short cut
on their way to the poultry yard.
One day was sitting here, the baby in
the cradle asleep, when in strutted q tall
hen-turkey, and instead of hurrying
through as was the habit, she stopped in
front of the cradle, stretched out her long
neck and began sort of cultural cry,
and stood motionless. Presently another
and another entered, and were each trans
fixed in the same way. I arose and ap-
proached them, but not one stirred aside,
as was their habit when any one came
near them. noticed their eyes all had
a strained, unnatural look, their wings
dropped. as if relaxed they all kept their
necks craned out in stiff, constrained
manner.
At first thought of the sleeping child,
but they were used to it and never took
notice of its presence. Looking in the
direction of their eyes I beheld large
snake of the adder kind, with its body
partially cooled, head erect, and tongue
oscillating, while 10 me its color, ordinar-
lily of dirty black, with orange rosettes,
seemed remarkably brilliant. The crea-
ture was in high excitement of some
kind.
No sooner did I move the cradle than
its whole aspect changed, and it was a
common, sluggish adder which skunk
aside to escape. The turkeys all jumped
into the air with a ridiculous antic of
delight, and ran or rather flew out of the
place.
Now, leaving all but the first turkey
out Of the question. what was it that ar
rested her? It is possible that all but
the first were actuated by limitation
when they first paused on their way; but
the whole eight or ten turkeys fell at
On ,e into semicircle around the reptile,
and the action of all was precisely alike,
and like the first.
Was it terror that caused them to halt?
Did the reptile magnetic the first one,
and was it case of fascination? Are
fascination and magnetism identical, and
are they paralysis Of the nervous sys-
TEN, for the time BEING, from whatever
cause! A remarkable degree of mental
action, imagination, and observation were
evolved in this case.
I have before me natural drum, the
wlthered vertebra of a rattlesnake, which
was killed by neighbor of mine, a
woman of some skill in handling a rifle,
which may further illustrate the subject
Her house was built on the side of hill,
making it one story in the rear and two
in the front, where was an open area, free
for the poultry Of the m-house, and
covered with low grass, plantain. etc.; q
sunny spot, sheltered from the cold of the
north winds by woody hill, whose trees
quite EMPOWERED the cottage.
One day she was attracted to the win
dow by low plant from her poultry,
which seemed to be all hurrying in one
direction. Looking down she saw them
ranging in q semi circle, with all their
heads bent in one .di: ction. There were
at least twenty or thirty silly creatures
all looking the same way, and intent up
on the same object Leaning from the
window, she beheld monstrous rattle
snake coiled in a pile, with tail vibrating
in soft, gentle motion, which just stirred
the music of the rattles, and the head
keeping time; tongue red and quivering,
and the motion of the neck swaying from
side to side, sweeping in tho whole array
ofstupefed chickendom.
Watching all this some time, with no
change on the part of snake or poultry,
she went to the back of the house, took
down her husbands. rifle, and fired at
the head OF the creature, killing him at
once. Tue spell was broken, and the
poultry sprang away with the same ridic-
ulous kind of lump and fly had obsery-
ed IN my turkeys, as if relieved from a
spell. 4.
Now, what brought all these hens and
chickens to range themselves in this
dangerous partnership around this
uncannie monster? Was it sympathy
Was 1t imitation9 Was the magnetism
extended to distance in its actions
Why should the snake SO long continue
his insidious movment2 It was evil
IDENTIFY not hunger that actuated him
or he would have seized his prey and
made his exit. Did he enjoy his awe
struck auditory, and was he fond Of til.
display Of his power9 -Elizabeth Oake
Smith.