Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-06-12

Herda from lS45 TO l649 and Founder q
the 81 Pad Pioneerl
(Continued.)
MRsMERIsM.
The Major was troubled. There
was the anxiety of his friends at home
about his welfare, and particularly
the earnest appeal of lis mother
whom he loved; tenderly; then the
difficulties, expenses, and risk Of q
lawsuit in defense of his discovery
but, more than all, the agony of sep
aration from the lady he low ed. All
these causes had combined to de.
press his spirits, and produce melan.
choly. AT times, he almost repented
OF bis resolution to sacrifice his at.
tachment 10 the lady, dishonorable
though its indulgence might prove,
and ruinous to them both. It il
highly probable, in this irresolute
state of mind. that, if he had believed
the lady would play Cleopatra, he
would have enacted Mark Antony
and that a state-room for "Maior
White and lady," down the Missis.
sippi, would have been suddenly tax.
en-; and so across to
The land that freely takes us
When every other land rejects us.
But whenever he considered his cash
account, his virtue recovered its
woDted equilibrium. Now the Major,
to be secure from temptation. had re-
solved to return no more to Badger
ton; but business now required him
to go there, and he went.
1t was Saturday evening when he
arrived in that beautiful little village,
and stopped at the best hotel; but
,ohich hotel that ,oas, / have not yet
ascertained. Every body had gone
to attend lecture on the novel sci
ence Of Mesmerism; and, after tea,
having nothing else to do, the Major
went likewise. Even Madame Leech,
detected and melancholy as she was,
had, at the earnest solicitation of her
sister. taken a seat In the crowded
audience. to listen to the peripatetic
philosopher. The Major entered the
room and uncovered his intellectual
brow, and took q seat near the lee
turer. He was, for a moment, the
cynosure of all eyes but ono there
was who, when she glanced at him,
started as If an arrow had reached
her heart; but he knew not Of her
presence.
How is philosophy fallen! Shades
OF Newton and Franklin and Spur
helm, your mantles have fallen upon
the shoulders of mountebanks Here
was teacher Of philosophy who had
certainly blundered into some of the
sublimest mysteries of physiology,
which he exhibited to the conviction
of the most skeptical yet, when he
undertook to explain the wonderful
phenomena, and pirate about the "lors
OF nature" he only proved himself to
he fool. He was like a child that
had thrust lever into some compli-
Gated machine, and arrested its mo-
ton for the examination of others !;
but OF the construction OF which he
was himself more ignorant than any
spectator, and was as unfit to teach
philosophical theories, as was the silk
en- cord with which Franklin, as
with lariat, noosed and dragged
down the lingering lightnings from
their wild home in heaven.
"Here," said the lecturer, turning
to Major White, ''here is a gentleman
OF temperament that never fail to
bring under the Mesmeric influence.
If l am not mistaken in his appear.
ance, he is q eomnambulist. II he
will consent to be mesmerized, I
think l will afford the audience some
very pretty exhibitions Of clairvoy-
ance.
The Major smiled incredulously,
and at the urgent solicitation Of Mr..
Power and several other gentlemen,
consented to the experiment. The
lecturer took seat facing the SUBJ
ject, and looking him steadily in the
eye for about FIVE minutes. The sub.
ject at length began to perceive q
misty veil spreading before his Wis
ion-he grew unconscious of what
was passing around him. The lee.
tarer then approached him, aud gent
ly closed the lids OF his eyes, drew
his fingers lightly over him q few
times from the head downward-then
pressed his hand upon the subjects
bosom. The subjects senses were
locked in profound slumber-his
cheek was aushed-his pulse was
quickened-and his limbs were rigid.
The hushed audience breatheo again.
"Now." said the lecturer, 81 will
excite the subjects organ of memory,
and try to ascertain what is most in
delibly impressed upon it."
He touched the organ Of memory.
"Uh!" groaned the somnambulist,
cit was a terrible blow! fear, doc.
tor, the skull is fractured. Thus then,
/ am to perish-and where is she
Oh may she never, meyer know my
miserable fate!"
"Can any one explain the meaning
of his language ?" asked the lecturer.
"Yes," said Mr.. Power, she was
nearly killed not long since, by the
falling of rock upon his head in 9
mineral bole. This is one Of my eli
ents, sir, Major White, of Blue Rabbit.
"Ah!" said the lecturer, "that il
the key to this subjects mind. His
brain has been more or less injured
aud hence his amazing susceptibility
to this influence. l will now excite
amativeness in connection with mem
DRY, and see If / cen learn anything
about his lady.love."
All this time Madame Leech wal
sitting motionless as q statute, will
her eyes riveted upon the subject.
Memory and smativeness were nov
excited.
"Oh! thou angel OF light ~ ex
claimed the subject his face beam
ing with eloquence; ''hast thou in
deed come, mistress of my soul, 3,
xx,.p,otar