National Republican., 1884-06-21
MAaNEro-ELEcrR1o POWER.
Further Speculation Relative 90 tho Lula
Hurst Phenomonon-Vvhat It May Bc.

Apropos Of the wonderful manifestations Of
mystical power almost unknown and un-
named, as exempliGed in the person Of Miss
Lula Hurst of Georgia. L would like to
throw out few observations in part as hints
aud suggestions to the scientific world,
hoping that even our weak, finite minds may
gropo beyond tho twilight of this existence,
and evoke from the glowing future one more
ray to illumine our pathway.
I notice in tho newspaper articles one
writer calls it "nerve force" another "blood
force" "physic force" and so on, whilo the
Hurst family claim TO be striving against
spiritualism, and are unconscious of the
cause of this remarkable power, which can
readily believe, having before this met with
similar instances.
Now l submit, what to mo has the force Of
q proven fact, that we are, each one, an
individual electrical machine Of such varied
capability and wonderful power as to DO but
poorly illustrated and simulated by the best
and most delicate mechanism which man has
as yet or over will bo ablo to produce, as tho
work of tho infinite is over so much beyond
and above the best efforts Of the finito as to
lead only to glimmering comprehension OF
Almighty Power.
This wonderful machine has positive and
negative pole, can give and receive cleo trio
shocks, attract and repel and become cogni :
Zsnt of currents and effects too del icato to be
detected by any other agency known to man,
and which by action on tho sensitive brain
produces what we term impressions" which
| are often put aside as foolish superstitions,
and laughed to soorn by the unbelieving.
This view of the case makes clear to my
mind many of tho more incomprehensible
manifestations Of so-called spiritualism-tho
thoughts and even words which come stimuli
taneously to the minds of two or moro per-
sons in the same place, and which Is such q
common phenomenon that fow have failed to
| be surprised by another person speaking their
unuttered thought. Tho memory OF some
one which comes unbiddon just previous to
tho appearance Of the individual or Lett
ter therefrom, tho persistent idea Of some
distant friend who we afterward find IL
just then passing through some trial
or great crisis, the apprehension
of impending evil which has turned many q
person away from the danger to q course OF
safoty-all this and thousand other similar
things seem to me perfectly natural and
philosophical; and while am impressed with
awe ut so wonderful and minute a law Of the
universe, regard it with no more supersti'
tion than the laws which govern the contri
fugal and centripetai force of the planets, Of
any other of the manifestations of thai
unknown, wonderful power which VIC
reverently call God.
should be q wire for tho transmission of al
electrical message. And, further, ask Of the
medical fraternity, is it not more than possi-
BILE that the circulation of tho blood, the
connection between mind and matter, the
subtle transmission of sensation to the seat o
sensation the brain in fact--tho union Of thu
wonderful principle of physical life to inert
matter, thereby making living, breathing
moving being of o body composed of q Ger
tain quantity of solid matter combined with
a definite amount of various imponderabl
gases-is 1t not more than possible that tn
secret Of these wonderful and incomprehen
sible things may be wrapped up in the prin
ciple of electricity and its twin sister, mag
netism2
Many physicians and nurses know tn
power they possess in the sick room fron
their personal magnetism, enhanced often il
the case Of the physician by his brisk rid
through keen winter air, well charged witt
the vitalized fluid, and occasionally arise
q healer, whose names Will occur to m
renders, who use the power they possess IL
such abnormal degree to benefit mankind.
This is no new idea to thinking people, TO
even In the Bible We find the record tina
whom the woman touched the hem OF Christ
robe in faith that she should be healed, III
said, Il perceive that virtue hath gone out
me-"
Is not this strange substance (which CO
neither be seen, tasted, nor weighed, and OK
cept in its effects is totally unrecognized b
our grosser senses may it not be Gods prime
minister in governing the movements Of th
un iverse--the mysterious agent which unde
His fiat hasteneth to do His bidding an
execute his royal Commands?
Perhaps it is that Miss Hurst is more full
charged with this fluid; that in some strang
manner her physical nature is more suscep
tible to this unseen yet potent force-that lik
leydon jar, he may be tho recspticle for
1t would in no wise seem strange that tn
force which, stored in o thunder cloud, ca
rive tho gnarled and enduring oak and hur
rocks from their foundations, should be abl
to waltz congressman and newspaper me-
about room and play havoc with nrnitur
it would seem quito in the common
course. The only remarkable thing about !
is that a young lady in good health, wit
nothing morbid about her, should possess
such power. If she combine with it grea
sympathy and tenderness of character, shC
would be most potent in the sick chamber.
At the touch of her right palm strength ant
new life would come to the wasting in
valid. while her left hand, or negative pole
would still pain and give rest to the suffering
l shall look anxiously for something expla
natory from the scientists, rs this has TO
years been an engrossing theme to me.
trust they will not stand abashed before
preceptress so gentle and benignant as nature
but seek to unshroud the mysteries of he
silence and teach us how to use tho reserv,
force which in greater or less degree is stored
up In ourselves for the benefit and happinos
of our follows, II. M. III,