The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-04-03
A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT.

Beneath a spring-time's sky.
Mary ID. Brine, in Golden Dogs.
A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT.
Tom Wilkinson had looked forward
to the evening of the 18th of December
with some amount of pleasure. He
was to spend it at the house of his
friend Jack Spencer, of Guys. Not
only that, but Spencer's aunt, who
kept house for him, had been kind
enough to ask Amy Durant, Toms
~1fancee, to come as well. Tom had but
few opportunities of meeting Amy, so
he naturally was glad of this one, es-
pecially-but the reason why will soon
be manifest.
However, for some reason or other,
he did not greatly enjoy himself. Miss
Spencer, having taken the somewhat
bold step, for her, of inviting the lovers
TO her house, did not see tit to leave
them alone for an instant.
Jack Spencer scarcely saw the fun of
having Tom up to spend an evening
trying to be alone with Miss Durant; so,
after an hours insipid music, and more
insipid conversation, he drew Tom out
VI buC IOOI1 vi u very W0dh DIC0cAO,
and dragged him OF to his den.
.Look here, Tom, I've had enough of
that cackle. Come and have a smoke"
81 don't care if L do; but I'm afraid
Amy won't half like my leaving her"
..Quite a mistake; don't fiatter your
self so grossly. Besides, you'll see
plenty of her when you're married.
She'll get on very well with my aunt
now they're alone, and it strikes me
you weren't getting on very brilliantly.
Now what will you smoker"
s.I've some rather good cigars was
Wilkinson's reply; ''let me offer you
one."
He put his hand in his pocket.
} ssConfound itin he exclaimed: 81
must have left my case in my great
coat
.'Never mind, old man. try this pipe;
it's a beauty; got it from an American,
whose leg 1 helped cut off for him at
the hospital"
Wilkinson took it, thinking at the
same time the recommendation was o
strange one.
"What a jolly den you haver he
said. as he lit up.
..Not SO bad. Don't let my aunt
hear you call it a den, though; it's q
study"
Wilkinson laughed.
"By Jove, though, Tom, 1 do study
now, and nc mistake. I'm n of the
coming men. l can tell you. I'm going
in for medicine on a new theory"
Sand how about your practice while
you are perfecting your theory?"
''Oi my aunt will buy me a practice
fast enough. Yes, my boy, Pm going
to revolutionize medicine. No more
doctoring up a mans body; that avast
mistake"
"What are you going TO do them"
'tDoctor up his mind"
Wilkinson smiled; he did not quite
see what his friend was driving at
However, he had considerable interest
in science, and still more in Jack Spen.
GERS progress, so he asked to be fur.
Their enlightened.
There was nothing that Spencer
wanted SO much as an appreciativt
listener. He launched out under full
sail.
''It's a perfect mystery to me, Tom
and to a few other men, why such mar
velous phenomena as we hear of oc
casionaliy in the domain of electro
biology, as it's called, obtain so littl,
scientific attention"
There's such a lot of humbug con
nected with it." suggested Wilkinson
.'Of course there is, butt has a sount
basis of fact. The science is in its in
fancy as yet. but it must grow. L
a known fact that one mind a inf1u
ence another even at a distance, is j
notp"
tainly he seemed able to do anything
but l thought he was onlya conjuror.
Empirical generalization, unworth,
of you," remarked Spencer. 81 won
quote cases, though l might do so for
week, but just look at those books, the,
are full of well-authenticated, scientific
ally-conducted experiments"
He took down from a shelf Darwin
"'Zoonomia," Macnish's PHILOSOPHY G
Sleep and several volumes of the "Re
vue Scientifique."
''Now," continued Spencer. sit
proved that the mesmerizer can cor
troll the will, the actions, even the be
lief of his subjects; if he gives him
draught of water he can make him be
lieve it is champagne; if he gives hin
an ink-bottle he will smell it and thin
it a lovely rose"
.Have you seen these experimental
asked Wilkinson.
''Seen them? Why, I've made them.
Wilkinson looked up astonished.
YES" said Spencer, '.that's why
feel such an interest in this business.
possess the power of mesmerizing to
considerable degree. and 1 cultivate
every chance l get. Have a littl
whisky?"
Thanks, l will"
''Of course you WILL" replied Sper
Ger, with a smile. 81 decided tbs
while we were talking. Influence
one mind yer another, you see."
Wilkinson made a hasty exclamation
He was rather adverse to being exper
mented on in this way.
elbow is all this goiug to help you
doctoring?" he asked.
''Simply enough. Induce a state
trance; give your patient some waite,
make him believe It is the medicine
requires, and it will have the sam
effect. Or if an operation is require
you can perform it during the franc,
as he is quite insensible to pain"
"But can you always induce tn
t~rance?"
That's a weak point, but in time v
shall get v that. 1 can iniuent
four people out of five. Miss Duran
for instance, would be a very GOO
subject"
Wilkinson sat silently smoking for
few minutes. Apparently the mentic
of Amy's name had turned his though
into another channel.
He half wished he was back in tt
room where she was sitting. Then |
thought of recent events, and deterr
ined that he would show that he cou.
enjoy himself without her.
The two friends were soon in I'll
midst of an animated discussion of the