Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-02-28
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The Questions of spiritualism, mesmerism
and magnetism, from their obscurity and
incomprehensibility, have always possessed
more or less interest to every body The
thinker has delighted in his endeayors 10
unravel the intricate problems they pre-
sented and the unthinking masses have
cared in open mouthed wonder upon the
mate: lized results, without ~perplexing
them; yes with the metaphysical ques-
ton d ey involved. BY many they have
beep accepted through the medium Of the
sense ytsight, simply because ~unexplain-
able .: d upon the principle Of seeing is
larger lumber, been elassed among the oc-
emit sciences, including ~astrology and witch
cratt, and rejected as n~onsensical. Among
this latter class was the REGIsrEE reporter
who went TO the Academy Of Music, last
night, to witnes the experiments of Prof.
Arthur A. Wsite and his children, Nellie
and Harry.
The curtain went up, before a small aud
fence, made up of eminently respectable
people. disclosing q stage set with those
ystic paraphernalia usually connected
with spiritualistic Genes Scarcely had the
curtain nseR sufficiently to reveal his
figure when Prof. Waite appeared He is,
as has already been stated, q mild edition
Va ONN~A SCCtoAtu uANlOH. pOlsAOlN ,
with notes and additions BY the author.
His too, too solid flesh would not have
pleased Oscar and rather added to the
marked resemblance to Beecher, though
the waXed moustache would not have been
recognized by either. He has a smooth,
pleasant voice and natural, agreeable man
ners.
The opening address was to the effect
that he was no spiritualist, but n presti-
digitaieur, that all s~piritualists are cred
ulous and all mediums were frauds; that
he would do everything Slade had done
here and then expose them afterward.
This be proceeded TO do, giving the ring
tricks, all of the cabinet mysteries and a
variety Of this. In these he was assisted
by his daughter. Nellie, a very pretty,
modest girl, and his son. Harry, a bright
boy Of I or s years. The experiments
were varied BY a number of slight of hand
performances and a very interesting mes
meric feat practiced upon a small
boy in the front row. The mani.
feStations were all cleyerly done
and the secrets mostly shown up. The
meSmerism. however, went unexplained,
and upon this subject the reporter had an
interesting chat with the Professor.
He say mesmerism is not a mediums
trick or the work of a confederate. II get
control OF the person operated upon and
then fix his mind by an impression. He is
then just like a person in q dream, and
nothing interests or astoniSheS him. He is
guided by that impression. For instance,
If ] tell hin his nose is bleeding. he be-
lieves it and the blood might just as well
be there, as far as he is concerned
The boy mesmerized. last night, was a
youngster picked up from the front seat,
and be seemed entirely within control OF
the operator. doing Just what he was
told and could not, when impressed, re-
member his name or spell cat. ~ can
mesmerize q mans Jaw, so that every tooth
in il could be taken out without the
slightest paia.' Ii certainly was wonder
full.
All of last nights experiments were
made under the supervision OF 4 commit
tee consisting of Messrs. j. \. Bell and
John II. Mendel, who were selected. after
much merriment. Tonight the Professor
gives another entertainment, making 4
speciality of mesmerism.