The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-04-25
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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
iance, to come as well. Tom had but few
opportunities of meeting Amy, so he was
naturally glad of this one, especially, but
the reason why will soon be manifest
However, for some reason or other, he
did not greatly enjoy himself. Miss Spen-
Ger, having taken the somewhat bold step,
for her, of inviting the lovers to her house,
did not see fit 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 con-
versation, he drew Tom out of the room on
a very weak pretext and dragged him off
to his den.
'Look here, Tom, I've had enough of
that cackle Come and have smoke"
II don't care if do; but I'm afraid
Amy won't half ike my leaving her"
"Quite mistake; don't fatter yourself
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's your partic-
ular weakness Scotch or Irish ?"
'Irish, please"
"Ah, | thought SO"
"Why?" asked Wilkinson; II generally
take Scotch"
eyes, l know" replied Spencer, without
volunteering any further information.
In few moments they had put on easy
jackets, mixed their whisky with water,
and settled down in easy chairs.
"Now," said Spencer, "what will you
smoker"
eve some rather good cigars" was
Wilkinson's reply; ''let me offer you one.
He put his hand in his pocket.
"Confound it y he exclaimed; II 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 helped cut off for him at the hospi
tai.
Wilkinson took it, thinking at the same
time the recommendation was strange
one.
"What jolly den you have !" he said,
as he lit up.
'Not so bad. Don't let my aunt hear
you call it den, though; it's study"
Wilkinson laughed.
''By jove, though, Tom, ] do study now,
and no mistake. I'm one of the coming
men, can tell you I'm going in for
medicine on new theory"
'fAnd how about your practice while
you are perfecting your theory"
"Oh my aunt will buy me a practice
fast enough Yes, my boy, I'm going to
revolutionize medicine No more doctor
ing up aman's body; that's vast mistake" F"
"What are you going to do, then ?"
doctor 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 Spencer's progress, Sc he
asked to be further enlightened
There was nothing that Spencer wanted
so much as an appreciative listener. He
launched out under full sail.
dts perfect mystery to me, Tom, and
to few other men, why such marvellous
phenomena as we hear of occasionally in
the domain of electro-biology, as it is
called, obtain so little scientific attention.
"There's such lot of humbug connect
ed with it, suggested Wilkinson.
"Of course there is, but it has a sound
basis of fact The science is in its infancy
as yet, but it must grow. 1t is a known
fact that one mind can influence another
even at distance, is it not 2"
II once saw mesmerist, and certainly
he seemed able to do anything, but |
thought he was only conjurer."
empirical generalization, unworthy of
you, )" remarked Spencer 81 won't qnote
cases, though might do so for a week,
but just look at those books. They are
full of well-authenticated, scientifically con-
Quoted experiments.
He took down from shelf Darwin's
'.Zoonomia," Macnish's PHILOSOPHY of
Sleep" and several volumes of the "Revue
Scientifque."
"Now,' continued Spencer, sit is proved
that the mesmerizer can control the will,
the actions, even the belief of his subjects;
if he gives him draught of water he can
make him believe it is champagne; if he
gives him an ink bottle he will smell it
and think it lovely rose.
"Have you seen these experiments r
asked Wilkinson.
"Seen them? Why, I've made them. :"
Wilkinson looked up astonished.
eyes" said Spencer, ''that's why l feel
such an interest in the business. | possess
the power of mesmerizing to considerable
degree, and cultivate it every chance L
get. Have little more whiskey ?"
Thanks, | will.
"Of course you will, replied Spencer,
with satisfied smile. II decided that
while we we talking. Influence of one
mind over another, you see.
Wilkinson made a hasty exclamation.
He was rather adverse to be experimental
on in this way.
"How is all this going to help you in