Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-18
THE MYSTERY OF LULA HURST.
A Private Exhibition OF Her Powers
Before Scientific Men.

A Private Exhibition OF Her Powers
Before Scientific Men.
THE TEST NOT VERY SATISFACTORY OWING. As HER
FRIENDS CLAIM, no HER "PIG- HEApEDNESSH-PRoF.
NEwCoMB THINKS SHE RXERTs HER MUSCULAR
STRENGTH UNcoNsCIoUsLY-A MEsMKRIsTs OPINION
OF THE CASE.
On Monday Miss Lula Hurst visited the labora-
tory OF awell-known scientific gentleman in this
city, and met there number OF gentlemen who
mad been invited to witness an exhibition OF her
powers Miss Hurst was accompanied by her
father and mother and her agent and manager
she was shown to a small room, which Is used as a
study, and as the gentlemen came In they were
introduced Among those present were Prof
simon Newcomb, Major j. W. Powell, Prof Hark-
ness, Prof Eastman, DR.. Basil Norris, Colonel
Garrick Mallory, Prof. Gilbert and Mr.. Taintor
Miss Hurst was requested to proceed with the
practical demonstration OF her powers as she was
accustomed to do before the public One Of the
chairs in the room placed in the center OF the
hoor, and one OF the scientists grasped &c FIRMLY
Miss Hurst then placed the palms OF her hands on
each Side or the chair, and the scientist was soon
whlrnng about the room at q lively rate In the vain
enort TO hold the chair still This was repeated
several times, as wells similar test with a cane
oy the spectators OF Miss Hurst ascertain II there
was any contraction OF the muscles or other
evidence OF the use OF physical force
Ihere was but little comment made. The violent
and some times eccentric motions OF the persons
who were endeavorng to hold down objects touched
oy Miss Hurst excited considerable laughter. At
tentlon was called TO the position OF Miss Hursts
hands and the absence OF any sign OF physical ex-
ertion One eager investigator took her pulse after
above normal, while her partner was blowing ike
a porpoise.
NEW TKsT TRIED.
Prot. Newcomb suggested that Miss Hurst be
placed on platform removed from contact with
the ground while exerting her power. A small
nj q form
rollers perhaps an inch and half In height Stand
ing on this platform Miss Hurst attempted to re-
peat her experiment with the chair while It was
nrmly graSped by a man who was standing ON the
n0or. For some reason the power was not exerted,
ana after standing some time waiting for the chair
10 move Miss Hurst said she could not do II. Her
Iatner said In reaSSuring tone:
Just put your mind on 1t, Lula. fyou think you
can 90 It. you Will succeed The trouble is you think
mo, DON'T" protested the young lady 81 want
Another trial produced only a feeble demonstra-
that as the platform was a new experience IL had
diverted her mind. After stepping from the
as usual
In order to test definitely whether in the exer-
clse OF this power the young lady exerted any ply
Fairbanks scales. Her weight was taken, and
then the balance was moved along until the scale
indicated 100 pounds or 40 more than the weight OF
chair near the scales and Miss Hurst while stand
Ing on the scales bent down and placed her hands
on the chair The beam OF the scales was watched
Win eager eyes, while others directed their aten
ton to the performers hands There was a long
pause: The chair did not move. Miss Hursts face
was concealed in the long hair which Was tum bled
about as she bent over. Finally she Strengthened
up, and looking around,
WITH FLUSHED FACE,
said that she could not do it. Her father encour-
aged her, and she bent again to the task. After a
long waiting, the chair finally gave start uwirled
orr md loo
scales indicated that forty pounds had been added
to the weight or the young lady. But the test was
not satisfactory one and after repeated efforts, 1t
was found that nothing could be accomplished
While she stood on the platform.
The additional weight indicated In the scales was
OF course, by no means equal TO the weight of the
gentlemen who occupied the chair. One OF the gen.
temen took Miss HurstS place on the scales and In
simply exerting force enough to tip the occupied
chair back on its hind legs, his weight was in
creased some thirty pounds.
The test OF lifting the occupied chair was more
satisfactory after Miss Hurst again stood on the
floor. Although at no time did she do more than
move the chair about and Lift 1t partially from the
floor.
Prof. Hardness tried to lift the chair by placing
ms hands i where Miss Hurst's had been, but was
unable to raise the weight 1t was thought to be
impossible for any to lift the chair by physical
force while grasping 1t in that way. The attempt
by several gentlemen at once TO force the chair
down. while Miss Hurst simply placed her hands
upon 1t, only succeeded after a sharp and deter
mined struggle
"PIG-HEADEDNEss"
Miss Hurst spent nearly an hour in the company
OF the gentlemen. Her friends were dissatisfied
with her efforts, and one Of them, with some
warmth, declared that 1t was owing to "Lula's
p1g-headedneSS." The theory of her friends seemed
to be that she had made up her mind that she
could not DO anything there, and so her power was
not exerted. The scientists expressed no opinion
OF what they had witnessed. although they evt-
IDENTITY regarded the exhibition OF power genuine.
Prof. NeWcOmb's Opinion.
HE THINKS MISS HURST POSSESSES GREAT STRENGTH
AND EXERTs 1T UNCoNSCIoUSLY.
ASTAR reporter called upon Prof Simon Newcomb,
at the Navy department. to obtain an explanation
from his standpoint Of Miss Hurst's mysterious
strength.
"How do you know" asked the Professor, "that /
have ever laid eyes on Miss Hurst?"
81 understand" said the reporter, "that in the
interest of science Miss Hurst gave an exhibition
at Prof. Graham Bells residence, at which you
were present"
l don't know that L have any objection to telling
you what think OF 1t all. In the first place. the
exhibition Is perfectly honest, there is tr1ckery
or pretense, or any endeavor at concealment
Secondly don't see any reason for supposing that
what she does arises from anything else than
unusual muscular strength. Stll, [ should be
much interested in Investigating the matter further
The wonderful fact OF the exhibition Is that she is
not conscious OF any exertion in performing
the extraordinary featS Of strength. The way we
satisfied ourselves on that point was to arrange
tests which could not be accomplished without
consciousness OF effort or exertiOn In those in
stances Miss Hurst did not succeed. Besides that,
however, the physicians stated that there was not
the slightest change In her pulse after a test"
'How can you explain the exercise Of such extra
ordinary strength without any consciousness OF it
or signs OF exertion?n asked the reporter.
vi can't explain IT. " was the reply. 81 leave that
for Psychologists to do"
some people say that her powers come from
electricity suggested THE STAR
i don't believe In 1t at all 1t can't be-"
Then, again, there is the Will power" ventured
the reporter.
81 never have seen any such exhibition OF will
power, pure and simple" said the professor.
well, how about mesmerlsm?"
"1he mesmeriSt must come In contact with or
see the subject said Prof. Newcomb. Hang a
effect No, as said at first, saw nothing but a
But, SIR 1nterposed the reporter, "here is one
person, and woman at that. overcoming the COM
pined strength OF three or four powerful men"
swell, /" responded the professor, "but you can't
tell about this combined strength. Three or four
men In endeavoring TO withstand Miss Hurst may
pull or push directly against each other although
correct estimate Of her strength is by opposing it
with single and known weight That is all can
say OF the matter"
What a Mesmerist Saws.
BE ATTRIBUTES MISS HURsTs PERFORMANCES TO
WILL POWER
sits all Will power" said Prof. Carter, the mes
merist, speaking to STAR reporter OF the remark
able magnetic powers exhibited by Miss Lula
Hurst. 81 don't see that there is anything Won
dertul about it. It's honest; there is no humbug
about 1t, but fail to see where the wonderful
comes in. Most any girl could learn to do the same
thing, If they would only practice, and could get
themselves to have faith in their own powers
They must learn to get themselves in an abnormal