The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-24


urged in behalf of the sufferer frivolous since
the public has been led to believe her capable Of
fancy work employment and the consequent con-
BURNETT HOUSE. Cincinnati. Ohio
ANOTHER ANSWER TO ''spEcULUM" - CLAIR
vOYANCE DERIDED.
To THE EDrroR THE HERALD:-
Nothing in this vast world of ours is more self
evident than that "Speculum," your presumptive
correspondent Of the 2lst inst is sadly deficient in
one OF the most valuable branches of human educa-
tion-viz that of logic, which is defined to be 'the
science of thought and the art of reasoning Had he
been fortunate to have had but short dis
cipline the subject of Human IDEAS their nature
and sources he would not have stultifed himself
and dsgraced his profession by his silly remarks and
false statements 1t is also quite manifest that he is
but lttle-if at all-read in psychologist medicine;
otherwise he would not SO have talked at random He
and his silly friend, IN. H.. have yet both to learn
that the human mind in the present state of human
existence Is absolutely incapable of going beyond the
compass OF the five senses, each OF which is con-
dtioned and limited by the statute of its Maker 1t
is equally apparent that neither his books nor his
''nany years experience has taught him that there
certain immutable and eternal laws of nature
among the which the laws of life OF death and OF
the human perception.
Miss Fancher's case is not much unlike many other
that have occurred in the history of science
and which. like it, have been used i'll the attempt to
impose upon the credence of different communi-
ties. but which were eventually exposed as this case
will be.
Clairvoyance has long since been exploded and
proven pretentious artiice by the keen and
minute investigation of the greatest men OF science
1t is, at the present day. placed the same footing
with astrology and alchemy--that is, by the common
sense of the sober and judicious part of mankind
No proposition is more manifestly true than that
in all departments of nature and art there
phenomena and appearances most false and deceitfu
which certain to impose upon and mislead
thoughtless and untutored minds. The atmospheric
delusions common at the Poles, the operations OF
lcgerdemain and ventrioquisn. &c, common
examples of the falsity and deceit of appearances
So with the falsely called manifestations or clarvoy
ance Credulous, weak and ignorant minds are not
more imposed upon by clarvoyance than by many of
the seeming wonders of legerdemain. Each is as
effective as the other upon small minds. Clair
voyancc and kindred prctensions are no more nor
less than mental legerdemain, imposing upon those
minds only which. by reason Of their credulity and
their inability to fathom its seeming mysteries
cribe them supernatural transmental agency and
with open mouths they stand aghast.
The alleged physical condition of Miss Fancher
though highly improbable is not absolutely imposs
bio. But her alleged psychologist state is absolutely
impossible if there be anything impossible in human
existence and the history of science shows that SIM
liar pretensions have been repeatedly unmasked and
exposed
Your correspondent is either ignorant of or forget
fnl of the great fact that the human mind is finite
being, having but five limited mediums by which the
internal being is made cognizant of things
external to itself. There is not, nor can
there be, sixth sense medium. There
may be less but not more than ve and 1t but proves
the ignorance credulity Of those individuals who
assert sixth medium We can all conceive how the
power and acuteness of sense may be- by reason
of the privation Of another enhanced to wonderful
degree, for instance in the OF many blind
In these the deprivation of sight and its
great Inconvenience is certain to stimulate most po
tently the exertion Of the OF touch and thus
increased energy generates increased power. The
doctrine of the "transposon OF the senses applied
to similar to that above is both consistent and
rational. Any other greater application of this
doctrine is weak, false and silly, and argues most
strongly against the sanity of its advocates.
Respecting the alleged physical state or condition
of Miss Fancher would say that there many
analogies in the animal kingdom of long-continued
life without food. The torpid state OF certain ami
mails and the trance state Of human beings
amples The common atmosphere contains three
elements that utilized by the physical economy Of
man-namey, oxygen nitrogen and hydrogen Now
though highly improbable is not altogether inpos
sible that if Miss Fancher i'll her present state
sumcs of her remaining bodily tissues
atoms these atmospheric clements may be all that
is necessary to sustain and continue animation
for it has been proved beyond scintilla of
doubt that oxygen is the most vital principle
of human life Yet it is "thc part OF men" to
look upon this alleged state with much distrust ana
doubt, and it should be accepted only after actual
demonstration and examination, was wisely pro-
posed by DR.. Hammond. II it shall be thus dem
onstrated, then say let tho trumpet Of science
sound forth Hail, we gods, hail! The elixir Of
life is found"
Neither Miss Fancher nor her friends should. as
"Speculum thinks ''be treated as honest till they
proved otherwise tor their stories grossly
and self-evidently false in many particulars if not
~ o Inc rd e nd riai pnes sird ,an
the wonders Of mythology. 1t certainly I'M
plies one of three thing-irst. that the imma-
terial soul mind leaves its phrenal tenement
and is actually present with its distant object and
secs, hears and the like without sense or, second.
that there is sixth medium of human perception,
undiscoverable and in the mass remaining dormant
or, third, that the soul is informed of extcrnaties
by supernatural spiritual agent, specially APP
pointed OF the Divinity to work upon the minds of
its favorites during their passive state. Each and
every one of these theories is equally fanciful alb
surd and ridiculous. ''Speculum, IN. H." and
their illogical class would in their insane zeal raise
the minds of their pretentous particulars to plane
bordering on that OF the divine
The sealed envelope proposition of DIR. Hammond
evinces not only that individuals good and his
acquaintance with these cases. but ii it remains
accepted it will be conclusive evidence OF the guilt,
imposition and folly Of Miss Fancher and her friends,
spectrum" and M H." included.
Concerning your correspondents story of the
clairvoyancc OF his servant girl, / would say that
have consider that he states fastes and is
q silly writer OF newspaper fiction He, his opinions,
his reading and his many years experience alto
gother do not amount to row Of pins. and IL he
profits more by his future reading and ey-
perence than he has done by his past
by all means / would advise him to burn"
his diploma and go West" for much do
fear that good farmer might have been spoiled when
he began the study Of physic
The physicians and the other respected citizens of
Brooklyn who have given their testimony on the side
of the Fancher story may be all honorable sincere
men, IL So l verify do pity them, that their good
sense not measured by their honesty. III honor
able, they certainly have been most blind and stupid
and sadly victmzed.
Let the friends and advocates Of the Fancher story
either accept the propositions OF Dr. Hammond and
permit honest investigation and test. else let
them not before the public with their loud and
ridiculous statements and silly ressonings. Very
spcctfully. y. $. w.