New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-19
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE BELIEF IN CLAIRVOYANCE.
is 1T DYING OUT "A LITTER FROM DIR. GEORGE NJ.
BEARD
10 fhs Edttor or rhs rr,omne.

-"
BEARD.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune
SIR: In your recent editorial on my essay
In Scrtoners Monthly, for July you say that have I'M
derraed the amount Of the popular belief IN witcbcra
and Overrated the amount Of the popular belief In
caryoyance In the South and Southwest and some por
tions the Middle States Exact facts regard TO the
prevalence Of decisions very hard to find for the
two-fod that their Technology is always vague
eastic and scientific delusioniss themselves do
not know they believe and that many beliefs are pas
syey held long after the active enthusiasm for them has
died out. CairvOyance for example, is known by large
variety OF terms phrases "secODd sight, "clear
seeing" "prevIsion," "retrovision" undertaking"
" thought-readinR." magnetism" "animal magnet
ISM" "psychometry" etc. all of which are Interchange
ably used the society and organs OF delusonists to
designate their general belief in the OF certain
individuals, in certain states of the system to see with
out eyes and TO the mind independently OF the
body. Those who passively ndifereuty hold these
deusODs may never through long life, give public or
private expression to their beliefs their nearest
relatives and friends may know suspect what
their faith may be these themes, unless some specal
excitement formal opposition should call them out
this recence the offspring Of FEAR but Of ndher
and OF quiet fixed assumption OF opinions winch,
to their minds well proved that they are 10 be
neither doubted discussed. Az exposure TO Light
brings into obscure stains garments, so the
excitement discussion Dflug5
tOns of the mind.
Very briefly let me state some typical observations
and experiences which / base the conclusion that
passive belief rather lack Of disbelief In the claims
of s0caed cairvoyance-by whatever name designated
is until very recently has been, almost universal In
this country. When BlOwn, the "mind-rcader" made
his trlumpha march the continent, our leading
colleges and universities became his body-guard, and
the press of the country unanimously on his sde
and 80 devoted TO his cause that for short time The
TRIBUNE the only paper that dared to publish the
universally accepted explanation OF the muscle
reading performances. This unanimiy can only DC ex
planned by the universally OF the beeI In the posslD
itY OF thOught-readng-embers or dying away delu
sion IL Is ruebut famed into flame by me orlglna 2na
brilliant Exhibitions of unknown adyenurer ~ thdt
tna alsO nearly all OF orr best Known HiaHaZheS--
Scfbaers not eXceptedpuDlshed defences OF this ana
allied delusions, while the teachings OF science naa
audience All this took place not IN the fourteenth
century but in the nineteenth. and less han hye years
ago. Although compelled In tine study OF thls sde Oh
system to converse Win large huhDeisoi
people these subjects and 10 answer many inquiries
from friends and strangers vet until within two
three years. had not succeeded IN meeting or III cor
responding with single intelligent American czen, IN
that the claims oil undertaking, or elsryoyanee, were
utterly bascless. For this reason l was forced, at
one time to it rule never ~ converse on these
subjects With our eminent men OF letters the puOhc
utcrances on this subject nave nearly an Dech against
science add III favor OF superstition; even the genial
Bayard Taylor took pains to write down the charge OF
was really bOdyreadlng; while the voice OF our one
philosopher Emerson in his last ESSAY on Demon
.A,l
on the side Of the dcmOnstrably false.
The question Is not one OF patriotism or anipatrOt-
ism; when SladCWhOsc trickery is OF most aDsufdly
uOnexpert chaacteT-yislted London, the leaders OF
science ana literature AT once fc at his feet and Mr
Hutton the accomplished Editor Of The spectator, made
haste the columns OF MS Justly esteemed perlou
cal To the aud to close them against the friends
OF science making that most distinguished journal Tor
the chief Of the English dclusionlsls In
Germany the tr1ckster has brought Loner, NebCr
and Fechner knees, and set these and other Il
lustriOus professors Of the University or Leipsle
earnestly mt work philoSOphizng on the -four dmen-
sous space -; short doing TOR that university what
Brown. the minGreadel, did for our own Yale.
second sight is "A flag over disputed ground" says
George Eliot; aud in this cautious statement she alfy
represents the best thought OF the century, outside OF
an obscure and limited bOdy Of students OF the nervous
SYSTEM Two facts are conceded;
l. That spuitisu-a deuson allied u clairyoyanee-
is rapidly dying -,
2 inat during the past few years the popular belief
in clairvOyance itself is seusbly declining. a gO0d
test was tue Molie Fancber discussion which pretty
clearly proved large numbers OF excellent people
I'm TINS country half inclined 10 prefer the demOnstra-
hv tIue 10 me drmOnstraby false. u. NJ. BEARD
heic- York, July To- 1879