Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-26

head with a sudden Jerk, and our eyes
met. l. thought | had mover seen
such pair Of eyes as his. His face
was within three inches of mine, aud
he glared into my eyes as if he intended
then and there to kill me. And what
seemed strange to me was that | didn't
care ii he did. | cannot easily de-
scribe the feeling Of dependence on
him that possessed me, but it seemed
to me that whatever he did must be
for my good. | did not lose my reason,
for | remembered that | was there to
test his power. Nor was | at all afraid
of him, but | felt wholly dependent
on him-felt like asking him for ad-
vice as TO every movement was ever
to make. Still / felt, on the other
hand, that must fight against him.
~ Here Is good subject, said the
Professor. Aud he placed his thumb
over my right eye and one OF his fin.
gers around near the back OF my
neck.
NOW, shut your eyes, said he,
When had done SO, he said. You
cant open your eyes now, can YOU?
said l thought | could, but | had no
inclination to try. 4 don't believe
you can, said he. | insisted that
could if | wanted to, but didn't do
1t just the same.
The Professor then left me and
looked into the cases Of the rest Of the
company. Out Of perhaps twenty q
rs he obtained four subiects-thret
ladies and myself.
This gentleman is my best sub.
lect, said he, coming to me. Now
SIR, will you please tell these people
Just how you feel2"
u knew exactly what | was about
| told them precisely how felt: sale
l seemed 10 be two persons in one
that | knew everything that vas goiul
on that | was there 10 test the Pro.
fessOr's power; that | was thorouQhl,
convinced he had singular povel
over me, but that | was quite sure
could do as pleased in spite of him
VI course you can do as Vol
please, said the Professor. but tn,
trouble is | can make you please to a,
what | WISH
u stood and argued that point will
him very intelligently, and held that
WAS not utterly in his power, though
admitted strange feeling Of depend
ence on him.
Well said he, we shall see hos
much power ! have over you. Wha
is your name?'
Henry VahIgren,' | said.
Do you ever forget your name2'
No, sir replied.
But you have forgotten il now
haven't your
II said | had not, and to make sur,
that l would not | kept saying, 'Heur,
Vahlgren, Henry YahlgreD, to my
well, what is your name?" sal,
be. And to save my life | couldn'
remember it. II seemed to be RICH
on the end Of my tongue, Just as
word often is, but | couldn't sneak II
| knew | ought to know, and vet [ bar
= kind OF feeling that didn't want /,
know | seemed to have two mind
-one that was level and wholly m,
own, and another that was upset an,
belonged not to me. And | felt theI
that the Professor could make on
strong and the other weak at hi
pleasure.
70 you ever stutter2' be asked
No, sir said |, beginning to brac
myself against suffering.
"But you stutter sometimes, d.
you not n said he.
IN n-no, SIS So That was A
lar as could go. | wished 10 slut
ter, yet laughed at my own Stiffness
Mr.. Vahleren is one of the hes
subjects ever had, said the professor
TO the company, but you must no
think that indicates weak mind o,
his part. Prof. Agassiz was the bes
subject | ever had, ana Mr. Huxlel
Is q very good ore. You would no
call them weak-mindcd men. | vii
now show you he continued. an In
teIesting phase Of biology-the evel
balancing OF Mr.. VOhlgren's Qua
mind, for really be has two minds nov
his own and mine.
Holding out his palm he asked /
| saw anything ir it. | did not.
DO you not see a strawberry ? b,
asked.
u did see a strawberry then, yet
knew there was none thefe.
''Do you think there Is strawber
~ on my hand 2 he asked.
No, sir, said |, L know there i
none there.
Yet you see III"
50 Yes, sir, | see It, but / know il 4
not there.
theu2 ''
u admitted that | knew my eye
We'll, let's try your scent. sal,
the professor. Smell Of the berry
But there's no berry to smell Of,
| protested.
You see il, do you nol2
here. V'
said he. '''
u placed my nose near his hand
and could smell a strawberry as Ger
tainly as | ever smelled one. Yet
was sure there was none there
Now for the sense Of touch sal,
the Professor Take the berry il
your hand.
vi held my hand for il. feeling YER
silly, for, while ! could see Il roll ri
into my palm, | was dead sure ther
was no berry there.
"'Can you feel it2'
Very plainly | answered.
AHu SIC AAi
"'Yes, SIR
"'And smell it2
Distinctly.
therer '''''
~ do; | know there is mona.
well, now taste IL, said he.
II took hold Of the imaginary stem
raised the berry 10 my mouth, Bit 1t Il
two, and swallowed the half, tasting
as surely as | ever tasted any straw
berry. And still knew / had 40
seen q strawberry for four or f7
months, for this was in dead winter.
"'Tho Professor then reversed III
test. Asking the company for some
thing edible. one Of the gentleme
offered him some quinine, which ID
/ nrolnaanr aaty ruan a uoru unod thin