Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-26

was lifted into the air several feet. Science
engaged, in half-hearted way, in aninquiry
into her powers, and an electrical relation
was found between her manifestations and
the unknown source of vigor she possessed.
Thus, when the girl was insulated she was
pOwerless So, too, at Philadelphia the
other day, Lulu Hurst was unable TO exer-
else her powers when standing on table.
Angelique, as well as Lulu, eXerted most
power with the left hand. In both cases
the girls repealed more than they attracted,
the tendency being to send bodies
violently from them. In Miss Hursts
case she requires the person sbeing
operated upon to fix his or her mind upon
the work in hand, that is, one must men
tally resolve to resist her. In Angelique's
case her pulse increased and was irregular,
and perceptible cool current was found
to flow from her skin; at least the senSa-
ton on touching her was that of introduce
ing the hand into cool atmosphere.
As to the theory of suggestion it is an
experiment III animal magnetism, so called,
that where small company fix their minds
sincerely and in unison upon given thing
to be done by another, and will it strongly;
and a passive, unresisting subject is then
brought in, blindfoIded oftenest and lightly
touched by one or more u the company,
who will certain performance on his part,
he will feel impelled to do that thing, and
unless he resists will do it. In such a case
thought is indeed power, and nerve force
takes on the physical form of manifesto
ton. 1t has long been held by very re-
spectacle school that it is not inconsistent
with reason to believe in development OF |
these powers to such an abnormal extent |
that one will may control another abs0 |
lutely, and even direct physical action in
animate subjects. In the case of the Cot |
tin girl the power, it is claimed, Overcame
the laws of gravitation and compelled ODE |
dienee from the inanimate. To some ex-
tent testimony is given of like character |
the powers of Miss Hurst. |
In this lies the chief difficulty of
solving the riddle Out of the doc
trine of suggestion springs that |
extreme view that in supreme moments the :
will power may convey intelligence to one
at distance, as in the case Of those who |
declare suddenly that some event is hap
pening at a given moment. And in all
such cases it is historically noted, in answer
to the plea of coincidence, that the impress
sion never concerns something that is to
happen, but something happening. But
these considerations lead US into realm of
discussion and uncertainty that we have
no present intention of entering, and be-
sides it removes the cases considered from
the purely scientific realm which should
be the first forum in which to test such
phenomena as that referred to.
The scientists of France set up the nerve
force theory in the case Of the Coffin girl
but the identity of it, or its relation to cleo
trical force, was not determined. One thing
only is certain. and that is that the power
exercised by these electrical girls is an I'M
known force, but the integrity of the phe-
nomena is established. In the case of
Miss Hurst there does not appear to
have been any really sincere OF ex-
naustiye scientific tests applied nor any
such inquiry into her case as science de
mands for probing mysteries Sheis as yet
A mere curiosity, exhibiting her powers
o bewildered audiences, pulling electri-
clans and other scientists under conditions
wholly her own. The scientific world as
he New York Tribune recently pertinently
owes it to itself and the intelli-
sence Of the age to diagnose her case calm
y, and under perfectly impartial condi-
ions for it viii probably be with her, as
with all previous cases, only q temporary
power, and in brief time she will prob
IDLY lose her powers, and thus leave the
nystery as profoundly Opaque as ever.