St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-28
PHENOMEN4

The phenomena put forth by humanity
from time to time, form a history having
chapters and subdivisions which become the
basis of theories. studies and schools of ply
siology, neurology and pschychology.
One of the marvels of this country was
Paul Morphy, who died few days ago. He
was the champion chess player, having de-
feated the best players of America and Eu-
rope. What wrecked his brain power was the
unnatural strain of mind in playing great
matched games blindfold.
He broke down in the foolish display of
such eccentric forces, and when he recovered
from brain fever, it was with impaired rea-
son, and with pronounced aversion for his
former absorbing enthusiasm, and for it's
votares. Mental activity wisely directed,
like muscular eXertions, keeps the brain in
a healthy state. But the stimulated abnor-
NAL conditions of Paul Morphy's triumphs
made him sad example of the mischief of
such unwise excuses.
Sitting with bandaged eyes, and winning six
games out of seven was suicidal to the minds
best vitality, and yet there was one singular
over move, but seemed to manage the
game with scarcely any refection-almost
without marked consciousness one would
suppose.
From the age of thirteen to TWEEN ty-one he
worked his marvellous feats of chess, and
then came NATURES retaliation in twilight
of the faculties until his forty-sixth year,
when his own imprudence in taking cold
shower bath while greatly heated caused his
death. The world passes to other wonders
with undated zest, and Miss Lulu Hurst,
called the Georgia WONDER" is the last
phenomenon in this mysterious half com
pretended domain of natural forces beyond
our definitions and ken. AN exchange
gives the following concise account of one of
these exhibitions as follows:
There was large assemblage IN Wallack's
theatre on Tuesday, attracted by curiosity to see
Miss Lulu Hurst, .'the Georgia wonder" whose
feats of strength are explained by magnetism and
various other theories, which are easy to advance
and hard to prove Miss Hurst, who is said to
be but sixteen years old, is very tall and well
formed county girl, with pleasing, rosy face,
dark brown ringlets, and unaffected manners.
Upon her appearance with her manager, she was
joined on the stage by number Of men from the
audience, including some who are well known to
the public. A series of surprising performances
followed. When one of the men held an open
umbrella above his head, grasping the stick with
both hands, Miss Hurst would lay her open hand
upon it, and the umbrella would apparently be
endowed with life. 1t would twitch and plunge
about violently, and the holder would be dragged
over the stageuin his efforts to hold it still.
When professional athlete of local note clutched
Il billiard cue firmly with both hands, holding it
in front of him horizontally, Miss Hurst laid
her palms upon it, and the cue became affected
like the umbrella. 1t required powerful exer-
ton of the athletes great strength to force one
end of the cue to the floor. When he held up a
common wooden chair with both hands, and Miss
Hurst touched it lightly, he was unable to hold
the chair STILL and found it no easy task to set 1t
down on the stage. Men of less strength than
the athlete were whirled about the stage igno-
minously while struggling to hold the objects
which Miss Hurst touched, and in several in
stances the men were thrown to the floor. In one
case four or five men together were unable to
force chair to the floor when she was touching
1t with one hand, When heavy man sat in the
chair, she placed her palms against the chair
posts, and both man and chair were propelled
forward considerable distance, being lifted
completely off the stage. All who took part in
the tests agreed that Miss Hurst possessed q
very remarkable force of some kind, but no one
undertook to explain it.