Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-05
AN ANIMATED BATTERY.
The Queer Attributes Of a Young Cana
dian Girl.

The London (0ntario) Advertiser,
in a recent issue tells this remarkable
tale:
About two years since a daughter OF
Mr.. Richard Glare, Caroline by name,
and then seventeen years of age living
on lot No. Is, on the second eonces-
sion of Rodney, was taken i'll. Her
disease could not be correctly dag
nosed, and had many peculiar fea-
lures. Her appetite fell of, and she
lost flesh till from a strapping girl of
100 pounds weight she barely weighed
81 pounds, There did not seem to be
any organic complaint. The bodily
functions were not impaired, and
although she ate less than formerly,
the falling Off in this respect was not
such as in itself would alarm her
friends. After the lapse of a few
months she took to her bed, Then it
was that a change occurred in her
mental condition. Formerly she was
noted for lack of conversational pow
ers, but now fits or spasms would come
over her, on the passing away Of which
her eyes would become set and glazed,
her body almost rigid, and while ia
that state she would discourse elo-
quently, aud give vivid descrip-
tions of far-of scenes, far exceeding
in their beauty anything which she
had ever seen or presumably ever read
of. On the passing away of this state
she exhibited a great degree Of lassi-
tude and indisposition to move, and
was taciturn and surly in reply to any
questions. This continued till about
a month since. when an extraordinary
change occurred. The girl, although
still not gaining flesh, appeared to
rally. She became light hearted aud
gay, and her friends anticipated an
early release for her from the room to
which she had been confined so long.
Their expectations were not in vain,
for she is now about the house, appa-
rently as we'll bodily as ever. But
another remarkable development has
taken place. She is constantly giving
off electrical charges, and seems to
be a perfect battery. A person, unless
possessed of the very strongest nerves,
cannot shake hands with her, nos can
any one place his hand in a pail of
water with hers. BY joining hands
she can send a sharp shock through
fifteen or twenty people in a room, and
she possesses ali the attraction Of a
magnet. If she attempts to.
pick up a knife the blade will
jump into her hand, and a paper
of needles will hang suspended from
D of her fingers. SO strongly
developed is this electrical power that
she cannot release from her touch any
article Of steel which she may have
taken up. The only method yet found
IS for a second party to take hold If
the article and pull, while the girl
strokes her arm vigorously from the
wrist upward. On her entering a
room a perceptible influence seIzes
hold Of all others, and while some are
affected to sleepineSs, others are i'll
aud idgetty till they leave, and even
for a considerable time afterward. A
sleeping babe will wake up with a.
start at her approach. but with a
stroke of her hand she con at once
coax it to slumber again. Animals
are aiSO subject to her influence, and
a pet dog of the household will be for
hours at her feet as motionless as in
death. A cnriOus part of the phe-
nomenon is the fact that the electricity
can be impaired by Der to any animal
with which she habitually comes in
contact. The other day. a younger
sister, while doing the Homework. took
up a pair Of corsets belonging to Car.
oline, and on her hand touching
the steer she was compelled "a
drop them with a loud cry and an eK-
clamation 10 che effect that she had
u a needle into her finger. Wooden
spoons have had 70 be made for her,
as she cannot touch metal, Altogether.
the case is a most remarkable n and
attracts scores OF visitors to chs house
Of Nh. Glare. Medical men are.
especially intesting themselves, and il
has been stated that Dr. Tye, Of
Thamesville, will read q paper on the
subject at the meeting Of the ProyiR.
vincial Medical Association which is
70 be held in London in the course Of
this summer. Mr.. Clare Is the father
of family of seven children, none Of
whom, except Caroline, show any abb
normal qualities.
At the anti Chinese bill should ever
become a law, our Chinese Greerack.
ers viii have to be manufactured In
Connecticut or New Jersey. where